title: Radioprotective potential of Lagenaria siceraria extract against radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury.
abstract: The cucurbits (prebiotics) were investigated as novel agents for radio-modification against gastrointestinal injury. The cell-cycle fractions and DNA damage were monitored in HCT-15 cells. A cucurbit extract was added to culture medium 2 h before irradiation (6 Gy) and was substituted by fresh medium at 4 h post-irradiation. The whole extract of the fruits of Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa cylindrica, or Cucurbita pepo extract enhanced G2fractions (42%, 34%, and 37%, respectively) as compared with control (20%) and irradiated control (31%). With cucurbits, the comet tail length remained shorter (L. siceraria, 28 μm; L. cylindrica, 34.2 μm; C. pepo, 36.75 μm) than irradiated control (41.75 μm). For in vivo studies, L. siceraria extract (2 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to mice at 2 h before and 4 and 24 h after whole-body irradiation (10 Gy). L. siceraria treatment restored the glutathione contents to 48.8 μmol/gm as compared with control (27.6 μmol/gm) and irradiated control (19.6 μmol/gm). Irradiation reduced the villi height from 379 to 350 μm and width from 54 to 27 μm. L. siceraria administration countered the radiation effects (length, 366 μm; width, 30 μm, respectively) and improved the villi morphology and tight junction integrity. This study reveals the therapeutic potential of cucurbits against radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury.
authors.affiliation: Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.|Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Dhara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.|Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Harish Chandra
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.|Dhara Sharma, Amity Center for Radiation Biology, Amity University, Sector-125, Noida-201303, U.P., India.
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chauhan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000528:radiation effects; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044726:Lagenidium / Q000737:chemistry*; D029776:Luffa / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056692:Prebiotics; D011830:Radiation Effects; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D056692:Prebiotics; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Lagenaria Siceraria; Lagenaria siceraria; cucurbitacées; cucurbits; gut villi; jonctions serrées; radiation-protection; radioprotection; tight junctions; villosités intestinales