Effect Of Antioxidants On Some Biochemical Parameters In Rats After Exposure To Gamma Ra

Abstract

Ionizing radiation at relatively low doses can cause death of mitotic or reproductive cells by inhibiting cellular ability to undergo rapid and unlimited proliferation, whi le high doses of radiation cause the cessation of cellular metabolism and the disintegration of the cell (Prasad, 1984). The deleterious effects of ionizing radiation in biological systems are mainly mediated through the generation of oxygen-derived intermediates such as hydroxyl radical, su pper oxide, and hydrogen peroxide which cause various types of tissue damage due to successive free radical reactions (Riley, 1994).

Oxidative damage resu lts in lipid peroxidation can inactivate cellular components and can have serious effects on the cells probably leading to a ing as well as several diseases (Rice-Evans and Burdon, 1993). Hewe¥er, organisms have protective systems against free radical reactions, for example, endogenous antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes. These protective systems may well function in association with each other (Miura et al., 1997).

Adverse alternations in biomerobranes can directly lead to cytotoxicity (Esterbauer, 1996). The radicals formed by auto-oxidation react with proteins, enzymes, and vitamins, leading to losing their biological fu nctions (Naziroglu, 1999). Hence, compounds capable of protecting cellular membranes against ionizing radiation in particular and free radicals in general will have potential benefits as radioprotectors, antioxidants and antimutagens (Odin, 1997).

This work aims to study the hazardous effects of y-radiation in some hematological and biochemical parameters in adult male albino rats.

The role of melatonin, zinc, vitamin A or ethanolic extract of beans hull on minimizing these hazardous effects, when it orally administrated to rats, had been evaluated.