Efficiency of corn steep liquor for modulation of certain biochemical and histological impairments in lung tissue of gamma irradiated rat

Corn steep liquor (CSL) rich in phenolic antioxidant compounds remains as leftover material during starch manufacturing processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate its efficiency in the modulation of oxidative stress. Results showed that oral supplementation of CSL (1 ml/kg/day) to rats for 15 successive days enhanced the activity of extra-cellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) in lung tissues. Histological examination showed normal architecture. Supplementation of CSL to animals before whole body gamma exposure at 6 Gy (delivered as a single dose) has significantly minimized the amount of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) produced from lipid peroxidation in lung tissues and erythrocytes. This was associated with significant amelioration in the activities of intra-cellular SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (G-Px) enzymes. The extra-cellular SOD activity in lung tissues of CSL treated and irradiated rats was significantly higher than its activity in the lung tissues of irradiated rats. Microscopic examination of lung tissues demonstrated that CSL treatment minimized radiation-induced damages. According to the results obtained, it could be suggested that by enhancing extra-cellular SOD activity, CSL liquor helps in adjusting intra-cellular antioxidant status and the tissue integrity