Study of the Influence of Egyptian Apple Against Oxidative Stress in Gamma-irradiated Rats

Oxidative stress is known to be a key factor in several diseases and was reported as a result of radiation exposure in human and experimental animals. Apple could provide a cheap and readily available source of dietary antioxidants. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of dried apple powder (DAP) against gamma (γ-) radiation induced oxidative stress, biochemical and histopathological alterations in male rats fed on diet containing DAP (10%) for 6 weeks. Chromatographic analysis of DAP showed that it contains a variety of phenolic compounds. The present study revealed that γ-irradiation led to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, significant decrease in glutathione content and antioxidant enzyme activities; increased liver function enzymes and serum lipid profile and histopathological disorders (rupture of the central vein with presence of haemorrhage and hepatic necrosis, accumulation of collagen fibres tissue in the central and portal vein, bile duct branches and between the hepatocytes). Rats fed on a diet containing 10% DAP showed significantly less severe damage and remarkable improvement in all of the measured parameters when compared to irradiated rats. It could be concluded that DAP attenuates the severity of radiation-induced liver biochemical and histopathological disorders probably due to the presence of phenolic compounds that possess antioxidant activity.