Protective role of aloe vera against radiation and cadmium induced biochemical changes in the jejunum of Swiss albino mice

Full text: The extensive use of atomic energy now a days in various branches of natural economy, science and technology, radio diagnosis, radiotherapy, industries, agriculture, nuclear research etc. has made radiation injury an urgent problem attracting the attention not only of specialists in a variety of clinical disciplines but also of a vast army of theoretical scientists. Metals like cadmium have always been intrinsic components of earth crust with the continuing trends towards and increasing human activities involving man may become exposed to concentration of toxic metals presenting a potential threat for survival. The severity of the damage can be modulated by treating the animals with antioxidants. In view of the potential for practical application, a variety of compounds are being tested for their radio protective activities. Among these, Aloe vera hold a great promise. Aloe vera juice was obtained from Millennium Agro Company, Goregaon (W) Mumbai. It is a herbal drug and known to contain well over 100 separate ingredients or constituents between those found in the leaf and mucilaginous gel inside the leaf. In light of the above, the present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Aloe vera against radiation and cadmium induced biochemical changes in the jejunum Swiss albino mice. For this purpose, healthy adult male Swiss albino mice were divided into seven groups. Group I included sham-irradiated normal mice. Group II was administered CdCl2 at the dose of 20ppm, while Group III was exposed to 5.0 Gy of gamma radiation. Animals of Group IV were treated with both CdCl2 and 5.0 Gy of gamma rays. The animals of Group V and VI were treated with CdCl2 + Aloe vera and 5.0Gy + Aloe vera respectively, whereas Group VII was treated with CdCl2 +5.0Gy+ Aloe vera. In the groups V, VI and VII the Aloe vera was given seven days prior to the treatment of CdCl2 or gamma rays. Three animals from all the experimental groups were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at each post-treatment intervals of 1,2,4,7,14 and 28 days. The value of total proteins, glycogen, cholesterol, DNA, RNA, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity were estimated. The values of total proteins, cholesterol, DNA and RNA decreased up to day-14 in non-drug treated groups and day-7 in the Aloe vera treated groups, thereafter the values increased. Whereas the values of glycogen, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity increased up to day-14 in non-drug treated groups and day-7 in the drug treated groups then declined in all groups. When the animals were treated with radiation and cadmium chloride simultaneously synergistic effects were observed. The Aloe vera treated animals exhibited less severe damage as compared to non-drug treated animals at all the corresponding intervals. An early and fast recovery was also noticed in Aloe vera pretreated animals. Thus, it appears that Aloe vera is potent enough to check cadmium and radiation induced biochemical alterations in the jejunum of Swiss albino mice