Abstract
Radioprotective effects of ginger essential oil (GEO) on mortality, body weight alteration, hematological parameters, antioxidant status and chromosomal damage were studied in irradiated mice. Regression analysis of survival data in mice exposed to radiation yielded LD50/30 as 7.12 and 10.14 Gy for control (irradiation alone) and experimental (GEO-treated irradiated) mice, respectively, with a dose reduction factor (DRF) of 1.42. In mice exposed to whole-body gamma-irradiation (6 Gy), GEO pre-treatment at 100 and 500 mg/kg b.wt (orally) significantly ameliorated decreased hematological and immunological parameters. Radiation induced reduction in intestinal tissue antioxidant enzyme levels such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione was also reversed following administration of GEO. Tissue architecture of small intestine which was damaged following irradiation was improved upon administration of GEO. Anticlastogenic effects of GEO were studied by micronuclei assay, chromosomal aberration and alkaline gel electrophoresis assay. GEO significantly decreased the formation of micronuclei, increased the P/N ratio, inhibited the formation of chromosomal aberrations and protected agaisnt cellular DNA damage in bone marrow cells as revealed by comet assay. These results are supportive of use of GEO as a potential radioprotective compound.
Highlights
Ionizing radiations has been shown to induce DNA damage, which can lead to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis (Ronald et al, 2008)
Animal experiments were conducted after getting prior permission from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) and as per the instructions prescribed by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India
In the group exposed to 12 Gy radiation, the first death was recorded on day 5 and 16% of animals
Summary
Ionizing radiations has been shown to induce DNA damage, which can lead to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis (Ronald et al, 2008). Exposure to ionizing radiation causes deleterious effects to living tissues both by direct (interaction between radiation and target macromolecules) or indirect (due to the products released during aqueous radiolysis) effects (Draganic and Draganic, 1971) This in turn leads to excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose interactions in the biological system can damage the cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms and cause mutations and chromosomal aberrations (Weiss and Landauer, 2003). WR 2721 (amifostine), a highly expensive, synthetic compound, is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved radioprotective drug for clinical use during radiotherapy It has restrained utilization at therapeutic levels due to severe side effects and toxicity associated with recurrent usage (Wang et al, 2014). The use of plants and natural products as radioprotectors has spurred interest due to their low toxicity and minimum side effects
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