Modulatory influence of Adhatoda vasica Nees leaf extract against gamma irradiation in Swiss albino mice

The radiomodulatory influence of ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees leaf extract against radiation-induced hematological alterations in peripheral blood of Swiss albino mice was studied at various post-irradiation intervals between 6 h to 30 days. Oral administration of A. vasica leaf extract (800 mg/kg body weight) prior to whole body irradiation showed a significant protection in terms of survival percentage and hematological parameters. Mice exposed to radiation (8.0 Gy) without A. vasica leaf extract pre-treatment exhibited signs of radiation sickness like anorexia, lethargicity, ruffled hairs and diarrhoea and such animals died within 25 days post-irradiation. The dose reduction factor (DRF=1.6) for A. vasica leaf extract was calculated from LD 50/30 values. A significant decline in hematological constituents (RBCs, WBCs, Hb and Hct) was evident till day 15 and no animal could survive beyond day 25. Conversely, animals pre-treated with A. vasica leaf extract showed 81.25% survival till 30 days after exposure and a gradual recovery was noted in the hematological values. However, these hematological values remained significantly below the normal even till day 30. A significant decrease in blood reduced glutathione (GSH) content and increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level was observed in control animals (Radiation alone). However, A. vasica leaf extract pretreated irradiated animals exhibited a significant increase in GSH content and decrease in LPO level. A significant increase in the serum alkaline phosphatase activity and decrease in acid phosphatase activity was observed in A. vasica leaf extract pretreated irradiated animals during the entire period of study.