Prophylactic role of combined treatment with wheat germ oil and ginseng against radiation injury in male rats

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the possible ameliorating effect of combined treatment of rats with wheat germ oil [a rich source of vitamin E, octacosanol, policosanol and the essential fatty acids [linoleic and linolenic]] and the antioxidant properties of panax quinquefolium ginseng on radiation-induced oxidative body damage. Animals received wheat germ oil by gavage at a dose of 80 mg/kg body wt and panax ginseng was intraperitioneally injected with 100 mg/kg body wt for 10 successive days pre as well as during irradiation and supplementation was extended during the period of radiation exposure of rats to fractionated doses 8 Gy [4 x2Gy]. Experimental investigations were performed at 7[th] and 10[th] days after the last dose of irradiation revealed that whole body gamma-irradiation of rats produced a significant rise in the activities of serum markers for liver damage as aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT], alaninetransaminase [ALAT], ammonia and buytryl cholinestase associated with decrease in the serum content of total protein, albumin [A], golublin [G] and A/G ratio indicating acute hepato-toxicity, at the 7[th] and 10[th] days post-irradiation. Also, radiation-induced biochemical disorders manifested by significant elvation in serum creatinine and urea levels. Serum lipid profile as total cholesterol [TC], triglyceride [TG], high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein-cholestrol [LDL-C] levels were significantly higher than normal control rats associated with significant decrease in HDL/LDL ratio. Radiation induced an elevation of lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TARS] in plasma and liver. The rats that received combined treatment with wheat germ oil and panax ginseng supplement showed significantly less severe damage and remarkable improvement in all of the measured parameters when compared to irradiated rats. According to the results obtained it could be concluded that combined treatment with whole germ oil and panax ginseng might be a useful candidate against radiation-induced oxidative stress and metabolic disorders without any toxicity