Protective role of sanumgerman against γ-irradiation–induced oxidative stress in Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the potency of organogermanium sanumgerman (germanium lactate citrate) as a protective agent against γ-irradiation–induced toxicity, which may be extended to affect normal organs in mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumor. Another aim was to evaluate the antitumor effect of this agent, alone or in combination with irradiation, by measuring the change in tumor volume. Female Swiss albino mice were injected intraperitoneally with sanumgerman 1 day before tumor inoculation, then once every other day for a total of seven injections during 13 days. The last injection was given 20 minutes before exposure to a single dose of whole body γ-irradiation at a dose level of 6.5 Gy. Lipid peroxidation (LPx), glutathione (GSH) levels, and activity of the antioxidant scavenger enzymes glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were estimated in blood, liver, and spleen at days 1 and 7 postirradiation. Ehrlich carcinoma–bearing mice, whether exposed to irradiation or not, showed marked elevation in LPx level accompanied by a decline in GSH content and in the activity of related antioxidant enzymes that was more apparent at day 7 postirradiation. Pretreatment with sanumgerman potentially reversed the investigated parameters in nonirradiated, tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, it prevented LPx, and ameliorated to a great extent GSH content and the activity of antioxidant scavenger enzymes in blood, liver, and spleen of mice exposed to γ-irradiation. Moreover, sanumgerman significantly suppressed the growth of tumor and efficiently produced a synergistic effect with irradiation in reducing tumor volume. Therefore, this agent may be a good candidate for use with irradiation to enhance tumor cell killing without affecting normal organs of the tumor host.