Zingerone ameliorates cisplatin-induced ovarian and uterine toxicity via suppression of sex hormone imbalances, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in female wistar rats

Cisplatin (CP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, effective against a variety of solid tumours, though its utility is limited due to its multiple organ toxicity. Zingerone (ZO), one of the most important components of dry ginger root, has several pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of ZO on CP-induced ovarian and uterine toxicity in female rats. The rats were subjected to a prophylactic oral treatment of ZO (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) for seven days to measure the protective effect against ovarian and uterine toxicity induced by a single (i.p.) of CP (7 mg/kg body weight) on the first day whereas the rats were sacrificed on the eighth day. The results showed that ZO decreased the serum FSH hormone level, increased the serum E2 hormone level, and also maintained the ovarian and uterine histological architecture and integrity. In addition, ZO obviously increased the measured activity of antioxidant enzymes ( SOD, CAT and GPx) and the GSH content, and significantly reduced MDA levels. ZO was able to reduce the levels of the inflammatory markers NF-kappa B, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS in CP-induced ovarian and uterine damage. It also inhibited apoptosis and reduced oxidative DNA damage markers by the downregulation of caspase-3 and 8-OHdG expression coupled with an upregulated Bcl-2 level. The results indicate that ZO may be beneficial in ameliorating CP-induced oxidative stress, sex hormone imbalances, inflammation and apoptosis in ovarian and uterine tissues of female rats.