The protective effect of non-thermal plasma against gamma irradiation in albino rats

Background, plasma-activated water (PAW) is generated by exposing water to the fourth state of matter (plasma). Plasma emits several kinds of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNOS). This wealth of active species potentiates the PAW modulation of gamma radiation-induced oxidative stress, which is the most likely cause for DNA damaging effect and/or cell death following gamma irradiation. Aims, this study is an endeavor to investigate the role of oral administration of PAW, against high dose of gamma irradiation. Methods, tap water was exposed to plasma jet under consideration delivering a plasma dose of 0.425 J/cm2. Rats, were divided into three groups, normal control ‘G1,’ group ‘G2’ including rats accessed to normal tap water and third group ‘G3’ including rats accessed to PAW. Each group drank the designated water for 60 consecutive days. After 60 days, the second and third groups were irradiated with a single dose of 7 gray gamma rays and anesthetized then sacrificed 24 following the irradiation. Blood samples were collected and assayed for DNA damage detection using comet assay. Biological functions including blood count, liver, and kidney function as well as oxygen and glucose levels were also assayed in the blood of all rats in the three considered groups. Results, although exposure to this dose of gamma radiation showed an adverse effects on rats accessed to normal tap water at both cellular and organ level, PAW group remained highly protected as was clearly shown by their cellular and biochemical parameters. Conclusions, our findings suggest that, PAW is considered a potentially promising technique for combating the acute effects of high radiation doses that damage DNA as well as impaired some biological functions. This could increase and support the hope in utilizing PAW as safer, economic, and efficient drinking water as radio-protective agent in expected wide scales.