The Ameliorative Effects of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) or Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) on Developing Embryos of Murine Model after Prenatal Dexamethasone Treatment

Farag, Sara A; Shabka, Hamza A; Abdelsamie, Iman A; Mohammed, Hend A

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2025.356792.2633

The Ameliorative Effects of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) or Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla) on Developing Embryos of Murine Model after Prenatal Dexamethasone Treatment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Ain shams university, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt

² Zoology department, Faculty of science, Ain shams university, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2025.356792.2633

Abstract

Dexamethasone, a highly potent and long-acting synthetic glucocorticoid, is widely used in preterm pregnancies for respiratory distress syndrome. The present study aimed to investigate the pathological effects of dexamethasone on fetal organs development and the ameliorative impact of ginger or chamomile on developing fetuses. Twenty pregnant female mice were divided into 4 groups, (n=5/group): Group I (Control group), Group II administrated dexamethasone at a dose 0.8 mg/kg subcutaneously. Group III administrated dexamethasone 0.8mg/kg followed by oral administration of 50 mg/kg ethanolic ginger extract, and Group IV administrated dexamethasone 0.8mg/kg followed by oral administration of 100 mg/kg of aqueous chamomile extract. All groups were treated once daily for 8 successive days from day 7 to day 14 of gestation. The dexamethasone- administrated group showed significant decrease in the placental weight and the body weight of fetuses as compared with the control group. It also, exhibited several histopathological alternations, as well as obvious degeneration and disorganization of the fetus placenta and renal tissues architecture. These changes were associated with elevated caspase-3 expression in the kidney tissues. The co-administration of ginger or chamomile with dexamethasone revealed ameliorative effects against the deleterious effects of dexamethasone on both placental and renal tissues. Ginger or chamomile administration showed uneven improvements in the placenta and fetus’ kidney. Ginger with dexamethasone during pregnancy has better ameliorated effects on kidneys of fetal mice than chamomile, while the latter showed better results in placental tissue.

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