Mitigation Of Radiation-Induced Oxidative Stress By Methanolic Extract Of Tragia Involucrata In Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Tragia involucrata L. has been used in Indian traditional medicine since centuries to treat various ailments. The plant remains unexplored for its radioprotective properties and hence the present study. Objective: The main objective of the study is to ascertain the radioprotective effects of T. involucrata methanolic extract (TME) in Swiss albino mice against whole-body gamma radiation. Materials and Methods: The acute toxicity of TME was evaluated. The optimal protective dose of TME against radiation-induced mortality in mice was determined by survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier curves. To understand the mechanism of radioprotection, TME was tested for hematological changes and antioxidant levels in mice by injecting100 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for 5 days and irradiated with a sublethal dose of 6 Gy gamma radiation. Results: The lethal dose 50%/of TME was about 645.65 mg/kgbw. The pretreatment of mice with 100 mg/kgbw of TME increased its survivability to 30% compared with the radiation control group and hence is considered as a radioprotective dose. The lethal dose 50%/30% of the irradiation alone group was found to be 9 Gy and 10.35 Gy for the TME + irradiation group. Hence, the dose reduction factor was about 1.15. The radiation decreased the hematological parameters in the blood, but on pretreatment with TME (100 mg/kgbw), increase in levels was noted. The antioxidant enzyme levels in the mice liver homogenate were found to be replenished in the test group compared with the radiation control. Conclusion: The present study indicates the protective role of TME against gamma radiation-induced mortality and oxidative stress. Hence, it is proposed as a candidate for radioprotection.