Protective Effect of Thuja occidentalis Against Radiation-Induced Toxicity in Mice

Abstract

The effect of Thuja occidentalisagainst damage induced by γ radiation was studied. Whole-body exposure of Swiss albino mice to γ-rays (6 Gy) reduced the total white blood cell count to 1900 cells/mm3on the third day, which was elevated to 2050 cells/mm3by the administration of alcoholic extract of T occidentalis(5 mg/dose/animal, intraperitoneally). Six animals from each group were killed after 2, 7, and 11 days of irradiation to detect the bone marrow cellularity and radiation-induced toxicity. The number of bone marrow cells andα-esterase positive cells in control animals after 11 days was reduced to 12.2 × 106cells/femur and 693.5/4000 cells, respectively. In T occidentalis-treated animals, bone marrow cellularity was increased to 16.9 × 106cells/femur and α-esterase positive cells were 940/4000 cells, a nearly normal level. Alcoholic extract of T occidentalisreduced the elevated levels of GPT and alkaline phosphatase in liver and serum after irradiation. The lipid peroxidation levels were also lowered in the irradiated animals treated with the Thuja extract.