Hesperidin, A Citrus Bioflavonoid Reduces the Oxidative Stress in the Skin of Mouse Exposed to Partial Body γ-Radiation

Abstract

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the important and early events after exposure to ionizing radiations and this ROS production is responsible for the degenerative changes ensuing irradiation. An attempt has been made to modulate the radiation induced-ROS by hesperidin (hesperitin-7-rhamnoglucoside), a bioflavonoid in the wounded skin of irradiated mouse. The lower half of the animals was shaved and the animals were orally administered or not with 100 mg/kg body weight of hesperidin before exposure to 6 Gy of partial body gamma-radiation. The activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione concentration as well as lipid peroxidation were estimated in the skin of mouse at 0, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-irradiation. Irradiation of mouse to 6 Gy caused a significant depletion in the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase as well as glutathione concentration. Exposure of mouse to 6 Gy resulted in a significant elevation in lipid peroxidation when compared to the base line levels of lipid peroxidation. Administration of hesperidin before hemi- body exposure to 6 Gy γ-rays significantly raised the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione concentration, whereas hesperidin pretreatment caused a significant reduction in the radiation induced lipid peroxidation. The present study demonstrates that hesperidin pretreatment reduces the radiation induced oxidative stress in the irradiated wounds of mouse and may be useful paradigm to reduce the radiation-induced oxidative stress before or after surgery.