Protective effects of Agrostemma githago L. and Saponaria officinalis L. extracts against ionizing radiation-induced oxidative damage in rats

The present study was planned to determine the possible protective effects of Agrostemma githago L. extract (AG) and Saponaria officinalis L. extract (SO) against oxidative damage induced by irradiation in rats. A total of 96 male Albino Wistar rats were allotted in 16 equal groups according to the oral treatments with plant extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg/day of AG or SO extracts diluted in 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) for 20 days, CMC and not treated controls), eventual X-radiation exposure (1 Gy) and sampling delay after (on one day (day 21) or 21 days (day 42) after radiation). The oxidant/antioxidant status determined by malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), ascorbate, beta-carotene and retinol concentrations and by total antioxidant ability (AOA), as well as the blood biochemistry (glycaemia, cholesterolemia, proteinemia and triglyceride concentrations) were investigated in all rats. Irradiation deeply altered the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium by increasing the MDA concentrations and depleting the antioxidant GSH, ascorbate concentrations and the total AOA and has significantly decreased glycaemia and proteinemia. By contrast, the plant extracts have exhibited antioxidant properties in normal and irradiated rats by reducing the MDA concentrations and increasing the AOA and the concentrations of ascorbate, beta-carotene / retinol (mainly with the AG extract) and of GSH at a lesser extend compared to the respective controls. In normal and irradiated rats, the cholesterolemia were significantly decreased after the oral extract treatments, particularly with the SO extract, and the triglyceride concentrations were markedly decreased with the AG administration. However, although the plant (especially SO) extracts exerted some hypoglycaemic effects, the glucose concentrations were not strongly depressed in treated and irradiated animals and even in AG-treated rats, proteinemia was maintained elevated for at least 20 days in X-ray exposed rats. In conclusion, both SO and AG extracts enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in blood samples of rats exposed to X-radiation.