The Flavonoid Rutin Attenuates the Radiation Induced Biochemical Disorders in Female Rats

Nowadays increasing attention has been given to the role of free radicals generated through oxidative stress. Tissue damage is associated with alterations in oxidative damage markers such as lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, glutathione (GSH) level and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (g GT) activity. Many radical scavengers, interestingly naturally occurring antioxidants flavonoids, have been found to be effective in inhibiting the oxidative damage. In the present study female Sprague Dawely rats (140-150 g) were exposed to whole body gamma irradiation (shot dose, 6.5 Gy). The flavonoid rutin, widely distributed in most vegetables, was administrated orally (1.064 mmol/kg body wt) up to 2 weeks before gamma irradiation of rats. Blood samples were taken 1 and 14 days post radiation exposure. The data revealed deleterious damage of radiation exposure which is manifested in significant acceleration in lipid peroxidation (as malon-dialdehyde, MDA content) and protein oxidation (as carbonyl group). On the other hand, the data recorded imbalance in the redox status which is noticed in the significant inhibition of reduced glutathione (GSH) and elevation in gamma GT activity level. Administration of rutin before radiation exposure ameliorated, to a great extent the damaging effects of radiation in the assayed parameters indicating its beneficial role in scavenging free radicals and reactive oxygen species as a promising antioxidant