Protective Effects of Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Vitamin C against Radiation-induced Liver Damage in Rats

• Published in: JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 123 - 131
• Main Authors: Adaramoye, Oluwatosin, Ogungbenro, Bayo, Anyaegbu, Oluchi, Fafunso, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: England THE JAPAN RADIATION RESEARCH SOCIETY 2008; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Alanine transaminase; Alkaline phosphatase; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Aspartate aminotransferase; Bilirubin; Body weight; Catalase; Enzymes; gamma Radiation; Glutathione; Glutathione transferase; Hibiscus; Hibiscus - chemistry; Leaves; Lipid peroxidation; Liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - radiation effects; Male; Plant Preparations - pharmacology; Radiation; Radiation Injuries, Experimental - prevention & control; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum lipids; Superoxide dismutase; Vernonia; Vernonia - chemistry
• ISSN: 0449-3060; 1349-9157; 1349-9157
• DOI: 10.1269/jrr.07062

The radioprotective efficacy of methanolic extracts of leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS), and vitamin C (VIT C) against gamma radiation (4 Gy) induced liver damage was studied in male Wistar albino rats. VIT C was administered at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight, while VA and HS were administered at doses; 200, 400 and 800-mg/kg body weight, orally for 4 weeks prior to radiation and 5 weeks after irradiation. The rats were sacrificed at 24 hours and 5 weeks after irradiation. Treatment with VIT C and VA (800 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the gamma radiation-induced increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities at 24 hours after irradiation, whereas, HS (400 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the serum ALT activity only. Similarly, treatment with VIT C and VA (800 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the serum conjugated bilirubin levels by 56％ and 29％, respectively at 24 hours. Furthermore, VIT C, VA and HS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of serum lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increased the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities at 24 hours. Treatment for 5 weeks after irradiation with VITC, VA and HS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of unconjugated bilirubin, while VIT C and VA alone decreased the levels of conjugated bilirubin. Furthermore, treatment with VA (400 and 800 mg/kg) decreased the serum ALT activities by 25％ and 34％, respectively, at 5 weeks after irradiation. Similarly, alkaline phosphatase and LPO levels were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated following treatment with VIT C and VA (400 and 800 mg/kg) at 5 weeks after irradiation. In addition, treatment with VIT C, VA (800 mg/kg) and HS (400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) elevated the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) by 61％, 56％, 41％ and 44％, respectively, at 5 weeks. Similar elevation of antioxidant enzymes; SOD, glutathione-s-transferase and catalase were obtained in animals treated with VIT C and extracts at 5 weeks. Taken together, the results suggest that the extracts of VA and HS, and VIT C could increase the antioxidant defense systems and may probably protect animals from radiation-induced liver damage.