Evaluation of Salicin Isolated from Salix subserrata as a Radioprotector against Gamma Irradiation Induced Ultrastructural and Electrophoretic Changes in Spleen Tissue in Rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of salicin against irradiation effect on spleen tissue in male rats. Lipid peroxidation product (MDA) level was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Ultrastructural examination was carried out in spleen tissue by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for native protein, lipoprotein and zymogram were carried out in spleen homogenate. As expected, salicin resisted the irradiation effect and declined the MDA level in spleen homogenate of all treated groups. The alterations which were occurred as a result of irradiation in the spleen tissue could not be detected microscopically but they were detected electrophoertically at levels of protein and isozymes. Salicin prevented the qualitative mutagenic effect of irradiation on the electrophoretic protein pattern in the irradiated salicin simultaneous treated group (SI = 0.73). It showed the highest protective effect against qualitative mutagenic irradiation effect in catalase pattern in irradiated salicin pre-treated group (SI = 0.80). It could not prevent the abnormalities occurred qualitatively and quantitatively as a result of irradiation in peroxidase pattern in all irradiated salicin treated groups. While the esterase pattern showed the same electrophoretic pattern in the all irradiated salicin treated groups. The results suggested the radioprotective ability of salicin against gamma irradiation effect on various ultrastructural and electrophoretic patterns in spleen tissue of male rats.