Antioxidant System-Inducing Effects of Jeju Ground Water in C57BL/6 Mice against Gamma-ray Radiation

Recently, we reported that Jeju ground water contains vanadium components and exerts antioxidant effects in vitro and in vivo via the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities. In the present study, the antioxidant actions of Jeju ground water were compared with those of tap water against gamma-ray radiation in mice. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated with gamma-ray at a dose rate of 2 Gy. The mice were then given tap water or Jeju ground water for 90 days. Jeju ground water compared with tap water enhanced the activities and levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in irradiated liver tissues. Jeju ground water also enhanced the levels of intracellular reduced glutathione, which is vital for normal liver function and repair. These results suggest that vanadium-containing Jeju ground water can safeguard against the harmful actions of gamma-ray radiation through the support of hepatic antioxidant processes.