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The radioprotective effect of Emblica officinalis extract (EOE) was studied in mice. Swiss albino mice were exposed to γ rays (5 Gy) in the absence (control) or presence (experimental) of EOE, orally 100 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 7 consecutive days. A specimen of small intestine (jejunum) was removed from the mice and studied at different autopsy intervals from 12 hours to 30 days. In control animals, crypt cell population, mitotic figures, and villus length were markedly reduced on day 1; these later started to increase progressively but did not attain the normal level even at the last autopsy interval. The animals receiving EOE prior to irradiation had a higher number of crypt cells and mitotic figures when compared with non-drug-treated control at all the autopsy intervals. Irradiation of animals resulted in a dose-dependent elevation in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in glutathione as well as catalase concentration in the intestine at 1 hour post-irradiation. In contrast, EOE treatment before irradiation caused a significant depletion in lipid peroxidation and elevation in glutathione and catalase levels.

The radioprotective effect of Rosemarinus officinalis extract (ROE) was studied in mice exposed to 8 Gy of gamma radiation. The optimum dose for radioprotection was determined by administering 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/kg body weight of ROE orally once daily, consecutively for five days before irradiation. Treatment of mice with ROE, delayed the onset of mortality and reduced the symptoms of radiation sickness when compared with the non-drug-treated irradiated controls. The dose of ROE found to be most effective against radiation was 1000 mg/kg body weight because this dose increased the survival time and reduced the mortality rate of mice significantly. Body weight loss in ROE administered irradiated animals was significantly less in comparison with animals who were given radiation treatment alone. Furthermore, irradiation of animals resulted in an elevation in lipid peroxidation (LPx) and a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) in blood and liver. Conversely, administration of animals with ROE before irradiation caused a significant decline in LPx accompanied by a significant increase in GSH concentration. The present study demonstrates that Rosemarinus officinalis leave extract is a good radioprotector.

Oral administration of Emblica officinalis (Linn.) before exposure to gamma radiation was found to be effective in protecting mice against the hematological and biochemical modulation in peripheral blood. A significant increase in the RBC, WBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values was observed in the animals pretreated with E. officinalis extract as compared to the hematological values observed in the irradiated group. Furthermore, radiation sickness was greatly inhibited in those mice that were irradiated with prior treatment of E. officinalis. A significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and increase in lipid peroxidation (LPx) level were also observed in irradiated animals; whereas E. officinalis pretreated irradiated animals exhibited a significant increase in GSH content and decrease in LPx level, but such remained below the normal. The results from the present study suggest that E. officinalis pretreatment provides protection against irradiation to Swiss albino mice.

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