Radiation mitigating activities of Psidium guajava L. against whole-body X-ray-induced damages in albino Wistar rat model

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated radiation mitigating activities of Psidium guajava L. (P. guajava) against whole-body X- ray induced damages in albino Wistar rat model. The animals were orally administered with 200 mg/kg bodyweight of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of P. guajava for five consecutive days and on the fifth day, after the last dose of extract administration, animals were exposed to 4 Gy of X-rays. Rats were sacrificed 24 h post X–ray irradiation. The radiomitigating activity of the herb extract was assessed by micronucleus assay, histopathology of the small intestine and hematological parameters. Hepatic cyclooxygenase–2 (COX-2), interleukin–6 (IL-6) and interleukin –10 (IL-10) levels were assayed to validate the anti-inflammatory property. Biochemical estimations were also performed in RBC lysates to corroborate antioxidant properties in the leaf extract. HPLC analysis of crude extract confirmed the presence of standard flavonoid quercetin. Our results indicated that radiation elevated COX-2, IL-6 and decreased IL-10 levels and also induced micronucleus formation in polychromatic erythrocytes, simultaneously impairing hematological parameters along with erythrocyte antioxidants. The animals pre-treated with P. guajava exhibited a significant decrease in the COX-2 (P ≤ 0.01), IL-6 levels (P ≤ 0.05) and also displayed significant increase in the hepatic IL-10 levels (P ≤ 0.01). Pre-treatment with plant extract improved antioxidant enzyme activities, hematological parameters and reduced the intestinal damage by recovering the architecture of the small intestine. Moreover, extract also rendered protection against radiation induced DNA damage, as evidenced by the significant (P ≤ 0.01) decrease in the percentage of radiation-induced micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes. Furthermore, the herb extract treatment increased radiation LD50/30 from 6.6 Gy to 9.0 Gy, offering a dose reduction factor (DRF) of 1.36. Our findings for the first time propose the beneficial use of P. guajava as a radioprotector against X-ray induced damage.

Review of Phyto-Medical Extracts’ and Compounds’ Anti-Radiation Properties

“…TBARS and protein carbonyl levels increased significantly when the rats were exposed to 4 Gy radiation, pre-treatment with 200 mg/kg body weight of P. guajava reduced the levels to a lesser extent but not significant in comparison with the X-raytreated group. Bone marrow micronucleus polychromatic erythrocytes in the animals increased significantly (p≤0.001) on radiation exposure but reduced significantly (p≤0.01) once pre-treated with 200 mg/kg body weight P. guajava 1 h before radiation [62].…”

Chronic Ouabain Targets Pore-Forming Claudin-2 and Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Damage to the Rat Intestinal Tissue Barrier

“…In addition, IR potentiates lipid peroxidation, which disorganizes the arrangement of the lipid bilayer [ 56 , 57 ]. Protection from the harmful effects of IR is a high priority, and various strategies are being studied, including improving the activity of the antioxidant system [ 26 , 58 , 59 ]. In particular, it has been shown that N-acetyl-L-cysteine can serve as a potential radioprotector against IR-induced intestinal damage in mice [ 26 ].…”