Comparison of the Effects of Methotrexate and Ginger Extract on Reproductive Parameters in Rats

Objective: Methotrexate is an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger extract on sex hormones of male rats treated with methotrexate. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 56 male Wistar rats (10-12 weeks old) weighing 200-220 g were randomly divided into control and experiment groups. Experiment group 1 was administered 5 mg methotrexate intraperitoneally daily, experiment groups 2 and 3 were administered 20 mg and 40 mg of ginger extract orally daily, and experiment groups 4 and 5 received methotrexate and ginger extract. Sex hormones were measured after 8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used data analysis. Results: The results showed that serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone decreased significantly in the group receiving methotrexate compared with the control group. The concentration of these hormones in experimental groups 2 and 3, which received ginger extract, increased compared with the control group. The serum levels of these hormones in groups 4 and 5, which received methotrexate and ginger, increased compared with the group receiving methotrexate. Conclusion: Ginger extract reduced the adverse effects of methotrexate on sex hormone-producing cells. This effect is probably due to the antioxidant property of ginger.