Lycopene protects the structure of the small intestine against gamma‐radiation‐induced oxidative stress

Abstract

The small intestine displays numerous morphological and functional alterations after exposure to ionizing radiations. Oxidative stress and changes in monoamines levels may contribute toward some of these alterations. The objective of the current work is to evaluate the efficacy of lycopene on radiation-induced damage in the small intestine. Lycopene (5 mg/kg BW) was given to male albino rats, via gavages for 7 days before whole body exposure to gamma ray (6 Gy). Irradiated animals, sacrificed 7 days after irradiation, showed sloughing villi, ulcers, and ruptured goblet cells, shrinkage of submucosa layers, more fibers and fibroblasts. Histopathological changes were associated with a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and alteration in xanthine oxidoreductase system (XOR). In parallel, significant decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were recorded. Gamma irradiation has also induced a significant decrease in the level of monoamines: serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI) associated with an increase in monoamine-oxidase (MAO) activity. Lycopene pretreatment has significantly improved the oxidant/antioxidant status, which was associated with significant regeneration of the small intestine, and improved monoamines levels. Based on these results, it is concluded that lycopene may protect the small intestine against radiation-induced damage.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus(Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) Juice Modulates Oxidative Damage Induced by Low Dose X-Ray in Mice

“…This phenomenon may suggest that the supplementation of antioxidant in 50% watermelon juice has successfully elevated the levels of GSH in both brain and liver tissues. Present results were in line with a study by Saada et al [29] which emphasized that pretreatment with lycopene, which is rich in watermelon, significantly improved the oxidant/antioxidant status and helped in reducing oxidative damage due to radiation.…”

Role of Tomato Extract in Protection against Damage Caused by Mesenteric Ischemia/ Reperfusion Induced in γ-Irradiated Rats

“…Moreover, a further increase of the GSH content attributed to daily oral administration of TE was observed in irradiated rats. This was parallel with the observation of (Saada et al, 2010) on lycopene effect on small intestine of irradiated (6 Gy) rats. On other hand, no significant protection against elevation of ileal TBARS content was demonstrated with TE in I/R model.…”

Gamma-aminobutyric acid ameliorates gamma rays-induced oxidative stress in the small intestine of rats

“…Also, the increase in AOPP may be due to the interaction of ROS with various cellular proteins (Meaney et al, 2008). Moreover, the decrease in antioxidant (CAT and GSH-Px) activity following gamma radiation exposure was reported earlier by Saada, Rezk, and Eltahawy (2010), and such decrease may be attributed to the enzymatic action of these enzymes on free radicals formed by radiation during oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation where water radiolysis results in increased amounts of OH· and H 2 O 2 that lead to oxidation and inactivation of these enzymes (Farag & Darwish, 2016), which is their consumption by increased ROS production; enzyme chemical bonds break as a direct effect of gamma radiation or enzyme synthesis inhibition (Osman, Darwish, & Farag, 2011).…”