Dose dependent study on the effectiveness of β-carotene on the survivability of mice against lethal gamma irradiation

Present study is an attempt to investigate the most effective and optimum dose level of β-carotene against gamma irradiation. Swiss albino mice were administered different oral doses of β-carotene (20, 30, 50 and 70 mg/kg of their body weight) for two weeks and then exposed to 9 Gy of gamma radiation. Study was made on body weight, behaviour and mortality. A correlation between doses of beta-carotene after irradiation and recovery interval in the body weight indicates the longer time interval at lower doses of beta-carotene. Thus both the mortality data and body weight recovery show 30 mg/kg body weight as an optimal dose level of β-carotene. The dose levels below 30 mg/kg were found less effective and higher ones even toxic as in the case of 70 mg dose level. At 70 mg dose level all the animals died within 11 days, whereas in 20 and 30 mg dose group animals survived up to 30 days and onward, respectively. (author)