protective capacity of rosemary extract against radiation induced hepatic injury in mice

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 10th 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 10th 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 10th 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- 168