Protective and Ameliorative Effects of Adansonia digitata and Corchorus olitorius Leaves-based Diet on Gamma-irradiation induced Genotoxicity and p53 Damage in Cellular System of Rats

Abstract

Exposure to gamma irradiation (γ-IR) causes cellular alterations (CA) in animals. Extract of Adansonia digitata and Corchorus olitorius leaves (ADCOL) have been shown to protect against γ-IR-induced CA in rats. Traditionally, the leaves are consumed as part of diets, however, there is paucity of scientific information on the use of ADCOL based-diet (BD) against CA. Thus, the study investigated the effects of ADCOL BD in cellular system of irradiated rats. The objectives of the study were to determine the secondary metabolites in ADCOL, induce cellular alterations in rats and evaluate the protective, ameliorative and toxicity of ADCOL BD on rats. A total of 72 rats (186 ± 4.90g) were used in the 2 phases of this study. In the ameliorative phase, 36 rats were assigned into 6 groups of 6 each; Group I were fed with rat chow and distilled water only, all other groups were irradiated, such that, Groups II III, IV, V & VI were fed rat chow only, 80% inclusion of ADBD, 80% inclusion of COBD, 80% inclusion of combined ADCOLBD and Vitamin-C-BD respectively. Similar design was adopted for protective phase, except that, the rats were initially fed the inclusion diet before irradiation. Micronuclei status were viewed by automated electron microscope, p53 level was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and antioxidant status of rat were determined by standard methods. Data were analysed using Duncan multiple range test at p<0.05. The findings in this study, were that; secondary metabolites constituents of A. digitata and C. olitorius were alkaloids (78.76 and 72.36g/dl) terpenoids (42.45 and 21.25 g/dl) flavonoids (13.42 and 104.81g/dl) polyphenols and (147.90 and 203.14 g/dl) respectively; γ-irradiation significantly (p<0.05) increased mean number of micronuclei and decreased p53, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) level in rats; 80% inclusion of A. digitata and C. olitorius leaf-BD significantly (p<0.05) reduced mean number of micronuclei and increased p53, SOD, CAT and GSH level in irradiated rats. The study concluded, that A. digitata and C. olitorius protected cellular damage induced by radiation. Thus, recommending their use against cellular damage.