Protective capacity of Rosemary extract against radiation induced hepatic injury in mice

It is well known that high doses of radiation are hazardous for living systems but they are inseparable from human beings because their uses are unlimited in the various fields for the benefits of mankind. Earlier the clinical substances, which could minimize the pathological change in the living systems after exposure to ionizing radiation, were looked into. Therefore, attempts were made in this direction from early 50's but the agents discovered so far are not safe to use for human beings due to high toxicity at their effective dose level. Some of them are 2-mercaptopropionylglycine(1) WR2721(2), deoxyspergualin(3), estradiol(4), beer(5) and diltiazem(6). Medicinal plants are the local heritage with global importance. World is enclosed with a rich wealth of medicinal plants. Herbs have always been the principle form of medicine in India and presently they are becoming popular throughout the developed world, as people strive to stay healthy in the face of chronic stress and pollution, and to treat illness with medicines that work in concert with the body's own defense. The ethnic people have provided several miraculous plants of medicinal value to modern civilization. Herbal drugs offer an alternative to the synthetic radioprotective compounds which are either non-toxic or less toxic. The study of plants as modifiers of radiation effects is a relatively new area of research. Many phytochemicals are known to be antioxidants, and are consumed in the diet and thus may help to protect humans from damages induced by radiation. Most of these plant extracts and phytochemicals are nontoxic and inhibit radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in animal model systems (7-11). Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis Linn.), belonging to family labiateae, is widely found along the north and south coasts of the Mediterranean sea and also in the subHimalayan areas in India, is a well reputed aromatic and medicinal herb (12). Rosemary is Background: This study was carried out to observe the radioprotective effects of Rosemarinus officinalis leaves extract (ROE) against radiation-induced histopathological alterations in liver of mice. Materials and Methods: Adult Swiss albino mice were exposed to 6 Gy gamma radiation in the presence (experimental) or absence (control) of ROE to study the qualitative and quantitative alterations in the liver. Results: Normal hepatocyte counts were found to be declined up to day 10 post-irradiation in both the groups but thereafter such cells increased reaching to near normal level at the last autopsy interval, only in experimental group. Contrary, frequency of abnormal hepatocytes increased up to day 10 after irradiation in both the groups. Binucleate hepatic cells showed a biphasic mode of elevation after irradiation, first at 12 hrs and second on day 10 in control group; whereas in experimental group, the elevation was comparatively less marked and even the second peak was not evident. Irradiation of animals resulted in an elevation in lipid peroxidation (LPx) and a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver as well as in blood. Conversely, experimental group showed a significant decline in LPx and an elevation in GSH concentration. Conclusion: These results indicate that Rosemarinus officinalis leaves extract (ROE) is able to protect the liver of Swiss albino mice against radiation induced histopathological alterations. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2007; 4 (4): 161-