AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF BLUE BERRY AGAINST MULTIPLE ORGAN DAMAGE BY γ-IRRADIATION IN ADULT MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Background: Blue berry fruit are rich in bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and tannins, as well as nutritive compounds such as sugars, essential oils, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals. Numerous scientific studies provide ample evidence that bioactive compounds have the potential to decrease the risk of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. Whole body exposure to ionizing radiation induces oxidative stress through generation of free radicals which often trigger chain reactions mediated tissue damage. Objective: This work was done to study the potential protective effect of blue berry against injury of heart, liver and kidney caused by exposure to gamma irradiation . Material and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were used and divided into four equal groups: Group 1 served as control group, group 2 received blue berry juice (BBJ) 1ml/100g body wt. by oral intubation gavage for 14 consecutive days , group 3 was exposed to single dose of 7Gy whole body gamma-irradiation, and group 4 received BBJ (1ml/100g body wt.) by oral gavage for 14 consecutive days before irradiation. All groups of rats were anesthetized and sacrificed on the last day after treatment and/or irradiation. Blood samples were taken from all groups to estimate lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, cystatin and lipocalin. Results: BBJ administration before exposure to g-irradiation significantly reduced serum LDH, CPK, IL-6, TC, TAG, and MDA versus a significant increase of serum HDL-C. Moreover, amelioration of liver and kidney function test was observed by significant decrease in ALT, AST, ALP, serum urea, creatinine, cyctatin-C and lipocalin-2 in comparison with irradiated group. Conclusion: The study pointed out to the promising positive role of blue berry supplementation as a natural product to reduce oxidative stress and protect body organs from gamma irradiation.