Silymarin Ameliorates Radiation Sickness and Weight Loss: An Experimental Study on Rodents

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ionizing radiation exposure may induce radiation sickness with critical weight loss. However, Silymarin administration showed to mitigate radiation induced weight loss and organ damage. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Histo-morphological changes in irradiated lungs, changes in body and absolute lung weight with protective effect of Silymarin. METHODOLGY: This animal study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi during 1 st August 2015 to 31 st December 2015 after getting the approval from the Ethical Committee of BMSI, JPMC, Karachi. Fifty healthy adult male Wistar albino rats, divided into control group A, irradiated alone Group B and irradiated + Silymarin Group C were used. Group B and C were further divided into subgroups B1, B2 and C1, C2. Group B1 and C1, B2 and C2 received 13Gy and 6Gy x 3f radiation respectively. Group C1 and C2 received Silymarin (70 mg/kg) orally additionally for 30 days. RESULTS: Effect of Silymarin was assessed according to body weight and absolute weight of the lung. Statistical analysis of data of Group B showed significant decrease in body weight (P<0.01) as compared with Group A, and a significant increase (P<0.01) in the absolute weight of the lung compared to group A. Silymarin showed attenuating effect on weight loss (P<0.01) and on lung weight (P<0.01) in group C as compared with group B. CONCLUSION: Silymarin ameliorated radiation induced lung toxicity and improved weight loss. The protective effect may be contributed to Silymarins anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.