title: Amelioration of radiation-induced hematological and biochemical alterations by Alstonia scholaris (a medicinal plant) extract.
abstract: The radioprotective efficacy of a hydro-alcoholic extracted material from the bark of Alstonia scholaris (ASE) was studied in mice against radiation-induced hematological and biochemical alterations. Swiss albino mice were administered ASE (100 mg/kg body weight/d for 5 consecutive day) orally prior to whole-body gamma irradiation (7.5 Gy). Radiation exposure resulted in a significant decline (P<.001) in erythrocytes and hemoglobin until the third day, following a gradual recovery (ie, day 7), but these values did not reach normal values during the remainder of the animals' life span. Hematocrit percentage declined significantly (P<.001) until day 15. In contrast, ASE-pretreated irradiated animals had significantly higher erythrocyte, hematocrit, and hemoglobin values than the irradiated controls. Furthermore, a significant elevation in lipid peroxidation level over normal was recorded in gamma-irradiated mice, whereas this increase was considerably lower in ASE-pretreated animals. Pretreatment with ASE caused a significant increase in glutathione levels in serum as well as in liver in comparison to irradiated animals. This study showed that ASE protects against radiation-induced hematological and biochemical alterations in Swiss albino mice.
authors.affiliation: Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Swafiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.forename: Ranu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Pradeep Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Goyal
mesh_terms: D031051:Alstonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005978:Glutathione