Panax ginseng as a protective agent against gamma radiation induced genotoxicity in adult male ablino rats

This study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of the antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic Panax ginseng on the toxic effect of whole body gamma radiation in albino rats. A total of 105 adult male albino rats was divided into seven groups of 15 rats each. Groups I, II and III served as controls, group IV was exposed to whole body gamma radiation [7 grays], group V was given ginseng 100 mg/kg for a week, then exposed to gamma rays, group VI was exposed to gamma rays, followed by an administration of ginseng for a week and group VII was given ginseng for a week, then exposed to gamma rays, followed by ginseng administration for another week. Animals were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day post-irradiation where a chromosomal study of both bone marrow and spermatocytes was done. One testis and a part of the ileum were obtained from each sacrificed animal at the 7th day post-irradiation for a histological study

Cyanamide toxicity. Role of alpha tocopherol antioxidant

Cyanamide a plant growth regulator with a dramatic fatal outcome in humans, has been studied in experimental rats to define the ill recognized biochemical and pathological features of its toxicity. Alpha-tocopherol an antioxidant, was used to determine its role in cyanamide-induced acute oxidant stress. Rats were divided into eight groups. Negative control served as the 1[st] group. Vitamin E 2mg/kg was given orally for the 2[nd] group. Hydrogen cyanamide was orally administered as 1/5 LD50 [60mg/kg], 1/3 LD50 [100mg/kg], and LD50 [300mg/kg] for the 3[rd], 5[th], and 7[th] groups respectively. Vitamin E 2mg/kg was co-administered with previously mentioned cyanamide doses to the 6[th] and 8[th] groups of rats. A significant rise in serum creatinine was noted in all cyanamide groups, being highly significant in the LD50 group. A mild non significant protection was afforded by Vitamin E in the 100 and 300mg/kg doses. A significant rise in CPK, ALT and AST was evident in the 100 and 300 mg/kg cyanamide groups. In the 7[th] group, alpha-tocopherol significantly reduced the CPK and ALT levels but had a non significant reduction on AST level. A non significant reduction of leucocytic count was evident in all cyanamide treated groups. Hemoglobin was significantly reduced in only the LD50 group. A significant rise of platelets count was noted in the 100 and 300mg/kg groups. Cellular infiltration, vacuolation and areas of vascular hemorrhage were observed in the liver histopathology with a weak reaction to glycogen. In addition, shrinkage of glomeruli and increased thickness of reticular fibers in glomeruli, Bowman's capsule and tubules were evident in the kidney. Peribronchial and perivascular cellular infiltration, alveolar rupture with areas of emphysema, vascular hemorrhages and increased reticular fibers in the basement membrane, vascular endothelial layer and interalveolar septa were noted in the lung. This picture was more marked with the higher cyanamide doses and was comparatively milder in the groups co-treated with vitamin E. The acute oxidant stress produced by cyanamide the inhibitor of the enzyme catalase is responsible for the multi-organ damage observed in this study. Alpha-tocopherol, through its antioxidant property, afforded a significant biochemical and pathological protection for most of the parameters studied