| Objective: Ginger has always been known as one of the most
famous medicinal herbs in eastern Asia (China and India). In
this study we examined the effects of antidepressants-like
activity of Ginger on the protection of central nervous system
against oxidative damages.
Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=30) were allocated
into three groups, control (n=10) and test groups (n=20) that
subdivided into groups of 2 that had been exposed to 50 Hz
electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for 8 weeks, one of the test
groups received Ginger rhizome powder (1.5 g/kg/day. body
weight) for 8 weeks as well. In the second and eighth weeks, we
used forced swimming test in order to evaluate the
antidepressant effect of Ginger powder on the rats exposed to
EMF.
Results: In the second week results revealed EMF exposure
increase immobility but decrease loco-motor function of
swimming and climbing in comparison to control group
(P < 0.05) whereas at the end of 8th week, rats that had been
fed with Ginger powder (1.5 g g/kg/day .body weight) showed
decrease in immobility score and increase in swimming
(P < 0.001), but not in climbing scores significantly. (P =0.18).
Conclusion: Ginger powder could act as serotoninergic
antidepressant medicine in order to decrease depression
presentation in exposed subjects to EMF. |