Ameliorative Potential of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) following Repeated Coexposure with Fluoride and Dimethoate in Blood and Brain of Wistar Rats

Coexposure to exogenous neurotoxins, such as fluoride (F-) and dimethoate (DM), is a serious public health concern. In the current study, Wistar rats were exposed to DM (1/10(th) LD50) and F- (4.5 ppm) in drinking water individually as well as in combination continuously for 28 days and the effectiveness of ginger and quercetin was assessed in combating the oxidative stress-mediated combined toxic effects on blood and brain. Significant (p<0.05) reductions were observed in the levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), blood glutathione (GSH), activities of catalase (CAT), total thiols (TTH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), aryl esterase (AE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) whereas significant elevations (p<0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were recorded in blood and brain of coexposed rats. Administration of ginger and quercetin significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated the combined F- and DM-induced hematotoxicity as well as neurotoxicity as indicated by the levels of markers of oxidative injury in brain and blood in coexposed rats, which showed significant (p<0.05) improvement. Moreover, pathological changes, such as neurodegeneration, perivascular edema, and gliosis, observed after combined F- and DM toxicity in the brain (cerebrum and cerebellum) were markedly reduced after ginger supplementation.