Androgenic activity evaluation of ginger rhizome in reducing depression in the forced swimming test of rats Exposed to Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

Abstract

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. 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.