Efficacy of Clove Oil as an Antioxidant against Radiation Risk in Male Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of clove oil (150 mg/kg b.wt) orally administered for 21 consecutive days before irradiation of male rats. Animals were divided into four groups, control rats group, treated rats group, irradiated rats group and treated irradiated rats group. Blood samples were collected 1 and 7 days post irradiation. Exposure of rats to gamma irradiation (6.5 Gy) induced significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) content, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities, leutinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone hormone levels in blood while significant elevation in MDA level, total cholesterol level (TC), triglycerides level (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (LDL) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was recorded. The data obtained from rats treated with clove oil before whole body gamma irradiation revealed an improvement in antioxidants enzymes activities and concentration of GSH associated with significant reduction of blood MDA concentration, comparing with irradiated rats. Moreover, significant amelioration in the total cholesterol, triglycerides, and FSH, LH and testosterone hormones was recorded. It could be concluded that clove oil exerts a beneficial protective role against radiation induced oxidative stress and some biochemical disorders