Arsenic-induced ovarian toxicity and the protective efficacy of Panax ginseng in mice: a histological and biochemical study

Taghinejad, Abolfazl; Mohammadifard, Mohammadjavad; Anvari, Morteza; Afkhami, Elham; Yadegari, Maryam; Harimi, Samane; Zarezadeh, Zeynab; Fesahat, Farzaneh

doi:10.22038/ajp.2026.28111

Arsenic-induced ovarian toxicity and the protective efficacy of Panax ginseng in mice: a histological and biochemical study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Abolfazl Taghinejad ¹

Mohammadjavad Mohammadifard ¹

Morteza Anvari ²

Elham Afkhami ³

Maryam yadegari ²

Samane harimi ⁴

Zeynab Zarezadeh ³

Farzaneh Fesahat ⁴

¹ Faculty of Medicine - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd. Iran

² Anatomical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

³ Biotechnology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

⁴ Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

10.22038/ajp.2026.28111

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the protective effect of Panax ginseng against reproductive toxicity caused by arsenic in female NMRI mice.
Materials and methods: Twenty-eight female NMRI mice were divided into four groups for five weeks: a control group, an arsenic-exposed group (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), and two treatment groups that received arsenic plus ginseng (200 or 400 mg/kg, oral). After treatment, serum and ovarian tissue samples were collected. Inflammatory markers and oxidative stress parameters were measured, and histological changes were evaluated.
Results: Compared to control group, arsenic exposure reduced primary and secondary follicle counts (both p<0.05) and increased atretic follicles (p<0.001). Treatment with ginseng improved follicle counts. This effect was more evident in the high-dose group for primary (p=0.01) and secondary follicles (p<0.001), while both doses showed similar trends in biochemical parameters. Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha levels significantly increased in the arsenic group compared with control (p<0.001). Serum malondialdehyde levels also increased in arsenic group compared to all other groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Arsenic exposure caused ovarian damage and reduced follicle counts. Ginseng improved ovarian structure and biochemical markers. Both doses showed protective effects, although the high dose had a stronger effect on follicle counts.

Keywords

Panax ginseng, Oogenesis, Arsenic, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-&alpha

)

Subjects