THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF Zingiber officinale and Syzygium aromaticum (ZOSA) CO-THERAPY: INSIGHTS FROM BIOCHEMICAL, HISTOPATHOLOGICAL, AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES
EKAETTE SUNDAY UDOH1*, MATHIAS OKANG AJABA2, SYLVESTER CHIKA OHADOMA1, FINIAN KELECHI ODOALA3, CHRISTABEL OJIBIMA FRANCIS4, FATIMA JUMAI BALA1
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
- Department of Anatomy, University of Calabar, Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 17(2): 167-179 ; 2025
ABSTRACT
In recent times, the combined therapy of Zingiber officinale and Syzygium aromaticum, known as ZOSA, has gained popularity among women, sparking curiosity regarding its safety and physiological effects. This research aimed to explore the influence of ZOSA extract on sex hormone profiles, oxidative stress markers, as well as histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. Twenty female Wistar rats were segregated into four groups and administered varying doses of ZOSA extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) for a duration of 30 days. Diverse biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out. The findings revealed that ZOSA exhibited substantial antioxidative characteristics, notably reflected in the reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to estrogen levels. Histopathological assessments unveiled active follicular development and maturation, as evidenced by the abundant presence of corpus luteum. Similarly, immunohistochemistry investigations demonstrated a robust expression of progesterone receptors (p<0.05–0.001) in the ZOSA-treated groups in contrast to estrogen receptors. Overall, our data elucidate that ZOSA extract exerts remarkable effects on female fertility. Nevertheless, the modifications observed in the biochemical assays suggest a potential for organ toxicity at higher doses.
Keywords: Zingiber officinale, Syzygium aromaticum, Immunohistochemistry, Histopathology, Oxidative stress,
Hormonal profile
Email of correspondence: ekaetteudoh@unical.edu.ng;
https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2025.2.7 ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)