The response of immunoreactive nerve fibres in osteoarthritis to orally administered Zingiber officinale extract

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger is a well known natural remedy that has long been used by people in many parts of the world as food additive and traditional medicine. Knowing the anti-inflammatory action of Z. officinale, it has become the most popular herbal medication for rheumatic diseases. The current work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of this extract on the efferent and afferent components of the peripheral nervous system, since this system had been shown to contribute to the inflammatory process which in turn will cause a severe joint damage in arthritis. Chemical lesioning of these fibres showed a decrease in the inflammatory response in arthritis [2], and oral administration of SP antagonist or dorsal rhizotomy markedly reduces the severity of inflammation in animal models [1]. This improved the cure from arthritis. Therefore, the respond of PGP 9.5-, SP-, CGRP- and NPY- immunoreactivity in experimentally-induced osteoarthritis with supplementation of Z. officinale extract was studied. Changes after the treatment were statistically evaluated by innervations of the synovial membrane. There was significant improvement in PGP 9.5-, SP-, CGRP- and NPY- immunoreactivity in the synovial membrane of treated animals compared with that for controls. Results of this study suggest oral administration of Z. officinale extracts can be a good alternative treatment for osteoarthritis.