The efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), a widely used cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent, is often limited by severe hepatic and renal toxicity. Basil has shown antioxidant and antimicrobial activities due to its phenolic and aromatic compounds. Here, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of g-radiation processing on the total phenolic and total flavonoids content of dried basil as well as to study the protective role of g-irradiated dried basil leaves against MTX-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Results obtained that g-radiation treatment increased the amount of total phenolic and total flavonoids content of dried basil. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the MTX (in saline, 20 mg/kg) given to rats on the day 21 of the experiment resulted in significant elevation in the activities of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and the levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid as well as the concentration of hepatic and renal malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase accompanied with a depression in hepatic glutathione content and xanthine dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in comparison with control and treated groups. Addition of either raw or g-irradiated basil (1%) to the diet of MTX-rats has significantly reduced the activities of serum enzymes and the levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid accompanied by ameliorating the alteration in the antioxidant/oxidant status of the liver and kidney. It was concluded that basil can protect against MTX-induced hepatic and renal injury and may be of therapeutic potential in alleviating the systemic side effects of this chemotherapeutic agent.

The aim of the present study is investigating the possible protective effect of Bee Venom (BV) against gamma radiation induced damage and inflammation in male rats. Gamma-irradiation (6 Gy) resulted in a significant elevation in the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) , interleukin-6 (IL-6) , creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) , serum glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and xanthine oxidase activity associated with remarkable decrease in insulin level, glutathione content (GSH) and the activity of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in heart and liver tissues compared to control group. Injection of BV (5ml/kg b. wt. / day/6weeks) to γ-irradiated rats was found to offer protection against γ-irradiation induced oxidative stress and significantly ameliorated the changes occurred in the above investigated biochemical parameters. It could be concluded that Bee venom clarified a modulatory role against gamma radiation induced oxidative damage and inflammation in the heart and liver tissues.

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant role of dried mushroom (DM) against hazards of gamma-irradiation in male rats. In this study, exposure of rats to whole body g-radiation (6 Gy) resulted in hepatic oxidative stress (a significant increase in lipid peroxidation concomitant with a significant decrease in glutathione content and antioxidant enzyme activities); increase liver function enzymes and histopathological disorders. Treatment of irradiated rats with 10% DM significantly improved radiation-induced injury as indicated by the reduction of the indices of liver damage, lipid peroxidation product, the elevation of antioxidants and the attenuation of the tissues histological architecture. These results suggest that oyster mushroom can improve the antioxidant status and minimize the occurrence of oxidative stress- associated disorders.

The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of E. purpurea extracts (EPE) against gamma (g-) radiation exposure (6Gy) induced biochemical alterations and oxidative tissue damage (liver and testes) in male rats given EPE (100 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) prior to g-irradiation. It has been found that g-irradiation led to hepatic and testicular oxidative stress with concomitant increase in liver function enzymes. Serum lipid profile and hormone level has also been found altered. Rats dosed with EPE before exposure to g-rays showed significantly less severe damage and remarkable improvement in all of the measured parameters when compared to irradiated rats. It could be concluded that EPE attenuates the deleterious effects of radiation-induced biochemical disorders and tissue damage (liver and testes).

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