Ginger extract attenuates labetalol induced apoptosis, DNA damage, histological and ultrastructural changes in the heart of rat fetuses

Labetalol is a medication used to treat maternal hypertension during pregnancy. However, it is often associated with many side effects. Recently, several studies have been focused on the protective effect of medicinal plant extracts, such as ginger, against drugs inducing toxicity. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that ginger aqueous extraction can ameliorate labetalol-induced histological, ultrastructural changes, DNA damage, and apoptosis in fetal heart tissue. To achieve the aim of this study, sixty pregnant female albino rats were divided into 4 groups (15 each). Group I (Control). Group II received ginger (200 mg/kg). Group III received labetalol (300 mg/kg). Group IV received labetalol first followed by ginger. All groups were orally injected daily during the organogenesis phase of gestation i.e., from the 6th to the 15th day, and sacrificed at the 20th day of gestation. Results showed that labetalol-induced marked histological and ultrastructural alterations. Also, there was severe DNA damage and an increase in the apoptotic rates determined by Annexin-V/PI dual staining assay. Injection of the ginger aqueous extract caused evident improvement in cardiac tissue, DNA damage, and apoptotic rates. In conclusion, the results suggest that ginger extract could be a potential candidate agent for reducing labetalol-induced cardiotoxicity in the fetal heart of albino rats.