Radioprotective effect of rhizome extract of Zingiber montanum in Rattus norvegicus.
The present study aims at determining the ability of 60% ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber montanum (J. König) A. Dietr. to protect bone marrow cells in vivo from radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations. Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus, 2n = 42) were used to carry out investigations on the radioprotective properties of Z. montanum. Acute toxicity of the extract was determined, and a suitable injectable dose was selected for intra-peritoneal administration. The LD(50) of the extract calculated for 72 h was 2.9 g/kg, and the calculated LD(10) dose was 1.7 g/kg. The calculated maximum tolerated dose of the rhizome extract was 1.3 g/kg. Rats were divided into 12 groups (with or without the administration of extract) and exposed to different radiation doses from 1 to 5 Gy. Whole-body irradiation of rats showed a significant dose-dependent increase in different types of chromosomal aberrations. The most common chromosomal aberrations were breaks, fragments, gaps, rings, endoreduplications and dicentric chromosomes. Ethanol extract of rhizome at a dose of 0.5 g/kg did not show any significant increase in chromosomal aberrations in unirradiated animals as compared to that of the control group. Intra-peritoneal administration of the extract at a dose of 0.5 g/kg considerably reduced the frequency of the aberrations stated above in irradiated animals with DMF value of 1.36 at 1 to 5 Gy dose range of gamma radiation. The incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes due to the radiation exposure was considerably reduced in extract-treated groups of animals with DMFs 1.34 and 1.17, respectively, as compared to that of the extract-untreated groups. Our results suggest that rhizome extract of Z. montanum may have a potential in protecting normal hematopoietic cells from radiation-induced damage.
Redox Biology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study in Life Sciences, Manipur University, Imphal 795003, India.
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D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D000431:Ethanol