Amelioration of radiation induced biochemical damage by Rosemerinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract in mice

A majority of potential radioprotective synthetic compounds have demonstrated limited clinical application owing to their inherent toxicity, therefore, the seeking of naturally occurring herbal products for their radioprotective potential has become an attractive alternative. The herb rosemary has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. An attempt has been made in the present study to explore radiation-induced biochemical alterations and their modulation by Rosemary leaves extract. For this purpose, Swiss albino mice were whole-body exposed to gamma rays (6 Gy) in the absence (Irradiated Control) or presence (Experimental) of ROE, orally 1000 mg/kg b. wt., once daily for 5 consecutive days. A specimen of small intestine was removed from the mice and histological study was performed at different autopsy intervals from 12 hrs to 30 days. In irradiated control animals an elevation in acid and alkaline phosphatase activities was found till day 3rd , but thereafter decreased at successive intervals without returning to normal. Proteins and cholesterol levels were found to be lower than the normal at 24 hrs, then increased up to 20th day but later declined without restoring to normal. A similar trend of variation in these biochemical parameters was observed in the experimental group (ROE pretreated irradiated) also but to a lower extent as ROE significantly delayed and inhibited the rise in their values. Further, almost normal values of such constituents were regained by day 30th in experimental animals; whereas in control animals, normal values were not ever attained. Irradiation of animals resulted in an elevation of lipid per oxidation and a reduction in glutathione in the intestine at 1 hr. post irradiation. In contrast, ROE treatment before irradiation caused a significant depletion in lipid per oxidation and an elevation in glutathione level. The results from the present study suggest the protective activity of Rosemary leaves extract against gamma irradiation. (author)