Rhubarb extract ameliorates some biochemical disorders induced by gamma irradiation in male rats

The current study was conducted to evaluate the possible modulating efficacy of prolonged oral administration of rhubarb extract against gamma irradiationinduced some biochemical disorders in male rats. Rhubarb extract was orally administrated at a concentration of 100 mg/kg body wt daily for 21 days before irradiation at a single dose of 7 Gy and for 7 days post exposure. Transaminases (AST & ALT), urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lipid profile; cholesterol, triglycerides (T.G.) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) as well as serum glucose level were determined. Also, liver reduced glutathione (GSH) content and lipid peroxidation were estimated. Rats exposed to ionizing radiation revealed transaminases disorders, lipid abnormalities, elevation in serum glucose, ALP activity as well as liver TBARS. Whereas a sharp drop in glutathione was recorded. The obtained data showed that rats treated with rhubarb extract before and after whole body gamma irradiation exhibited a significant amelioration in liver and renal marker enzymes, serum glucose and lipids as well as noticeable improvement in liver glutathione contents. Rhubarb extract was also effective in minimizing lipid proxidation induced by irradiation. It could be concluded that rhubarb extract exerts a beneficial protective role against gamma irradiation. Keywords, rhubarb, gamma rays, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, rats.