The impact of ginger extract on lung maturation, liver, and heart of mouse fetuses maternally treated with dexamethasone

Ginger (Zingiber officinale), is known for its valuable variety of possible health advantages, including anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and digestive characteristics. The present study aims to evaluate how ginger extract affects fetal organs. the effect of ginger extract on the fetal organs of mice treated by prenatal dexamethasone exposure. Fifteen pregnant female mice were divided into 3 groups. The first control group, the second group (Dexa) received dexamethasone at a dose of 0.8 mg/kg subcutaneously from 7th day of gestation to 14th day of gestation, while the third group (Dexa & Ging) was injected subcutaneously by 0.8 mg/kg of dexamethasone followed by oral injection of 50 mg/kg ethanolic extract of ginger from day 7 to day 14 of gestation. 18-day-old fetuses maternally received daily treatment of dexamethasone (Dexa) revealed some primary septa walls in the lung tissue became thinner than in the control fetus mice associated with decreased in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the lung tissues. Numerous vacuolated cardiomyocytes and some degenerated areas in heart tissue and the hepatic strands showed histological alterations. On the other hand, the lung, heart and liver tissue of 18-day-old fetuses maternally received dexamethasone and co administration of alcoholic extract of ginger showed a significant improvement. The present study showed that ethanolic ginger extract markedly attenuates the deleterious effects induced by prenatal dexamethasone exposure.