modulation of radiation and cadmium induced biochemical changes in mouse kidney by emblica officinalis linn

background: protective effect of emblica against radiation and cadmium induced biochemical changes in mouse kidney has been studied. materials and methods: adult male mice were divided into seven groups: i (shamirradiated), ii (cadmium chloride), iii (irradiated with 2 gy gamma rays), iv (radiation and cadmium chloride), v (cadmium chloride and emblica), vi (radiation and emblica), vii (radiation, cadmium chloride and emblica). the animals were autopsied after 1-28 days of treatment. the kidney was taken out and different biochemical parameters such as total proteins, glycogen, cholesterol, acid phosphatase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, dna and rna were estimated. results: the value of glycogen, rna, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity increased up to day-14 in non drug treated groups and day-7 in the emblica treated groups and thereafter decreased up to the last autopsy interval. the value of cholesterol and dna decreased up to day-14 in non drug treated groups and day 7 in the drug treated groups then increased in all the groups. in groups iii, iv, vi and vii the value of total proteins increased during early intervals and decreased thereafter, but the animals of groups ii and v, which were given only cadmium chloride with or without emblica, showed an opposite trend. the biochemical parameters showed highly significant values (p<0.001) as compared to normal ones. conclusion: results indicated that combined treatment of radiation and cadmium chloride exerts synergistic effect. the drug treated animals showed less severe biochemical changes and an early and fast recovery, which may be due to protection provided by emblica. iran. j. radiat. res., 2010 8 (1): 3-10