THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF GINGER AND NIGELLA SATIVA (ANTIOXIDANTS) IN WISTAR RATS AGAINST THE INORGANIC MERCURY (MEMORY IMPAIRMENT AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL TROUBLES)

Background: The current research explores theimprovementand neuroprotection effects of ginger extract and Nigella sativa oil on working memory and fills the knowledge gap on the neurotoxicity of inorganic mercury in Wistar rats.

Methods: The animals were divided into five equal groups, received by orally to 500 mg/kg/day of ginger extract, 2 ml/kg/day of Nigella Sativa oil for 28 consecutive days (01st – 28th day), and 4 mg/kg/day of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) for 21 consecutive days (08th – 28th day). The rats were exposed each on the 18th day and 28th day respectively in novel object recognition test (NOR) and spontaneous alternation behavior test (Y-maze Test).

Results: The rats were weighed on the 29th day and euthanized,the brains in each group were excisedand weighed.The results obtained show a significant decrease in the relativebrain weight in the rats treated with mercuric chloride alone compared to the control rats. The behavioral tests revealed a decrease in the recognition index and the spontaneous alternation in the group (M) compared to groups (T), (G+M), (N+M), and (G+N+M). The groups pretreated with ginger extract and Nigella Sativa oil reversed these cognitive impairments induced by HgCl2 and improved memorization.

Conclusion: We conclude that ginger extract and Nigella sativa oil exerts a neuroprotective and therapeutic effect against memory disorders induced by mercuric chloride.