Regulatory Impact of Zingiber officinale and Date Palm Pollen on the Thyroid–Ovarian Axis in Hypothyroid Female Rats

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a systemic endocrine disorder characterized by the suppression of the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which disrupts the body’s physiological homeostasis. This deficiency leads to multi-organ dysfunction, particularly within the female reproductive system, driven by escalated oxidative stress and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately resulting in ovarian impairment. Methods: This study evaluated the protective and therapeutic efficacy of Ginger extract (Zingiber officinale, ZO) and Date Palm Pollen suspension (Phoenix dactylifera, DPP) against hypothyroidism experimentally induced by Propylthiouracil (PTU, 10 mg/kg) in female Western albino rats. The sample (n=50) was randomly allocated into five experimental groups: negative and positive control groups, monotherapy groups receiving either ZO (125 mg/kg) or DPP (120 mg/kg), and a synergistic group receiving a combination of both. The physiological intervention was maintained for a duration of 30 days. Results: The therapeutic administration of Ginger extract (ZO) resulted in a significant restoration of serum thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4). This physiological improvement is attributed to the stimulatory role of phenolic compounds—specifically gingerol, shogaol, and paradol—in activating thyroid follicular cells or mitigating the enzymatic inhibition induced by PTU. Furthermore, the results demonstrated a comparable efficacy between the DPP group and the synergistic group in modulatingT3 concentrations. Furthermore, the results revealed that ginger extract and palm pollen exhibit potent 'endocrine-modulating' capabilities. This efficacy is attributed to their high concentration of flavonoids and bioactive compounds acting as natural antioxidants, which contribute to the protection of ovarian tissues and the restoration of the hormonal axis disrupted by hypothyroidism.