Use of onion and curcumin as radioprotectors against ionizing radiation induced hepato-testicular alterations in rats

Background: radiation protection concepts and philosophy have been evolving over the past several decades. The inadvertent exposure of human from various source of radiation causes ionization of molecules, setting off potentially damaging reactions via free radicals production. Onion, Allium cepa linn, is a major source of dietary flavonoids and has used since ancient times as a food plants. Curcumin is a yellow pigment from curcuma longa, is a major component of turmeric and has commonly used as a spice and food coloring materials

Aim: the aim of the present study is to evaluate the radioprotective role of both onion and curcumin extracted as antioxidant against gamma irradiation that induced some biochemical alterations in rats

Materials and Methods: animals were pretreated with onion or curcumin by orally administration using suitable stomach tube for two weeks prior to radiation exposure. The levels of malondialdhyde [MDA], glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT], glutamic pyruvic transaminase [GPT] and testosterone were estimated in both serum and tissues

Results: the results revealed that exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in significant elevation in the levels of MDA, GOT and GPT activities, meanwhile, showed significant depletion in GSH content and SOD activity and testosterone concentration

Conclusion: administration of onion or curcumin by using suitable stomach tube pre-irradiation has significantly ameliorated the radiation induced disturbances in all of the investigated parameters

Study on the preventive effect of Mulberry [Morus alba l.] fruits in rats exposed to gamma radiation

Background: Ionizing radiation is known to generate and reactive oxygen species. This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of mulberry fruit against -irradiation induced oxidative stress in rats

Materials and methods: Male albino rats were divided into four groups, Group [I]: [control group] rats fed on balanced diet for 4 weeks, Group [II]: rats fed on balanced diet contained 5% mulberry fruits powder [MFP], Group [III]: rats were exposed at the 1[st] week of the experiment to fractionated Gamma-irradiation dose of 8 Gy administered as 2 Gy, every other day and fed on balanced diet for 4 weeks, and Group [IV]: irradiated rats fed on balanced diet contained 5% mulberry fruits powder, at the end of the experiment, animals from each group were sacrificed, 24 hrs post the last dose of treatment, six rats from each group were sacrificed. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for Lipid peroxides as malondialdehyde [MDA] level, Xanthine Oxidoreductase system [XO and XDH], Glutathione [GSH] content, Superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], Aspartate Transaminase [AST], Alanine Transaminase [ALT], Gamma Glutamyl Transferase [GGT], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] activities and total bilirubin in rats

Results: The results showed that, irradiation induced high significant decrease in hepatic Glutathione contents [GSH], Xanthine Dehydrogenase [XDH], Superoxides Dismutase [SOD] and Catalase [CAT] activity. Moreover, a remarkable increase in the Malondialdehyde [MDA] concentration, xanthine oxidase activity [XO], the activity of some liver enzymes was observed in Gamma-irradiated rats. In contrast, administration of Mulberry Fruit Powder [MFP] to Gamma-irradiated rats was found to offer protection against Gamma-irradiation induced oxidative stress, by elevating the activity of antioxidant enzymes, enhancing liver function. All results in this study suggested that mulberry fruit had high potential to be developed as radio protective agent

Conclusion: Therefore, MFP could have a beneficial role in modulating oxidative stress by improving the natural antioxidant mechanism

Effect of cynara scolymus L. [artichoke] extraction on hyperlipidemic induced by gamma radiation in male rats

Excessive free radicals are caused by unnatural environmental influences such as air pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, factories, pesticides, food contaminants and a myriad of other factor that are part of our modern life. Hypercholesterolaemia is directly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease [CHD]. Cynara scolymus L. [Artichoke] grows in Egypt and other countries. It is used as foods and has medicinal properties. Artichoke extracts have been shown to produce various pharmacological effects, such as the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and low density lipoprotein [LDL] oxidation. The present study aims to evaluate the antioxidative activities and radioprotector role of cynara scolymus L. [artichoke] against hyperlipidemic induced by gamma- irradiation in male rats. Male Swiss albino rats were orally administrated by artichoke [head or leaves] [10% mg/rat/day] using suitable stomach tube [6weeks, 45 days] before exposure to a single dose [6.5 Gy] of whole body gamma radiation. Levels of lipids peroxides [MDA], reduced glutathione content [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD], total cholesterol [TC], triacylglycerol [TG], high density lipoprotein [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein [LDL-C] were investigated in serum. The results revealed that gamma radiation led to significant increase in MDA, TC, TG and LDL, Meanwhile, significant decrease in GSH and SOD, but groups administrated with Artichoke [head and leaf] before whole body gamma irradiation, artichoke exerted noticeable amelioration against the radiation induced changes in most of the biochemical tested parameters