Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Zingerone is a nontoxic important extract of dry ginger plant. It is reported that zingerone has an anticancer property, strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. AIM OF THE WORK: is to evaluate the possible protective effects of zingerone on ethanol-induced lesions on the jejunum of adult male albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: twenty four adult male albino rats were used, divided into 3 groups; A control group (I); consisted of 8 rats, ethanol group (II); contained 8 rats and each rat given 50% v/v alcohol at a dose of 4 g/kg.bw orally for 15 days. Ethanol zingerone group (III); consisted of 8 rats, each received zingerone at a dose of 50 mg/kg and alcohol at the same previous dose daily and orally for 15 days. At the appropriate time, the specimens were taken and prepared for light and electron microscope study. RESULTS: Histological examination of jejunum sections of ethanol group (II) showed massive jejunal villi ulcerations with shedding of their surface epithelium, loss of the villous architecture and loss of the microvilli covering some enterocytes. Examination of ethanol zingerone group (III) showed evidence of improvement in the form of nearly normal architecture of the jejunal villi with few areas of ulcerations on the top of some villi and increased cells with mitotic activity. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, we can conclude that zingerone administration can remarkably ameliorate ethanol-induced enterotoxiciy and jejunal ulcerations in rats by its anti-inflammatory properties and by suppressing oxidative stress.