Evaluation of the free radical scavenging activity and radioprotective efficacy of Grewiaasiatica fruit

Abstract

The radioprotective effect of Grewia asiatica fruit (GAE) which contains anthocyanin-type cyanidin3-glucoside, vitamins C and A, minerals, carotenes and dietary fibre was studied. For the studySwiss albino mice were divided into five groups: (1) control (vehicle treated); (2) GAE treated (700 mg kg−1 day−1 for 15 days);(3) irradiated (5 Gy); (4) GAE+irradiated and (5) irradiated+GAE treated. The irradiation of animals resulted in a significant elevation of lipid peroxidationin terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content and depletion inglutathione (GSH) and protein levels at all intervals studied, namely 1–30 days,in comparison to the control group. Treatment of mice with GAE before andafter irradiation caused a significant depletion in TBARS content followed by asignificant elevation in GSH and protein concentration in the intestine and testis ofmice at all post-irradiation autopsy intervals in comparison to irradiated mice.Significant protection of DNA and RNA in testis was also noticed. GAE wasfound to have strong radical scavenging activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*)and O2− assays and also showed in vitro radioprotective activity in protein carbonyl assay in adose-dependent manner. The above results prove the radioprotective efficacy ofGAE.