Investigation of the protective effects of stinging nettle seed extract against tissue damage in radiation exposed rats

It is known that 50-60 % of cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy, therefore some side effects related with radiation emerge in these patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the protective effects of stinging nettle seed extract (UDS) in radiation exposed tissue damage and oxidative stress. In this research, 32 Wistar albino race male rats, ages 8-weeks, were used and divided into 4 group (n: 8). First group was determined as control group (K). This group was feeding with pellet during 10 days. After exposing 5 Gy radiation as a single dose, second group (R) was feeding with pellets during 10 days. Third group (R+IOTE) was exposed 5 Gy radiation as a single dose as well as this group was feeding with UDS and pellets during 10 days. Last group (IOTE) was only feeding with UDS and pellets during 10 days. We determined the levels of MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px enzymes in serum, liver and brain tissues of rats that were sacrificed under (50 mg/kg IP) ketamine anesthesia. AST and ALT values in serum were also determined. We also examined the histopathological findings in liver and brain tissues caused by radiation. We determined that the levels of AST, ALT, MDA in serum were increased and the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px were decreased in R group compare to the other groups (p<0.05). Although the levels of AST, ALT, MDA in serum of R+IOTE group was lower than of R group, the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px were higher than of R group (p<0.05). We also detected that the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and GSH-Px in liver tissue of R+IOTE group were higher than of R group and the level of MDA was lower than of R group (p<0.05). There were no histopathological differences between liver tissues of control (K) group and of IOTE group. But we detected hydropic degenerations in hepatocytes of rats in R group. We did not observe any histopathological changes in brain tissues of all groups. These results show that radiation leads to increase oxidative stress and to decrease the capacity of antioxidants as well as to cause degenerations in liver tissues. However, the results show that UDS consumption after radiation leads to inhibit the elevation of oxidative stress, to stabilize antioxidant capacity and to decrease degenerative changes in liver. Key Words: Radiation, stinging nettle seed, oxidative stress, antioxidant, lipid peroxidation.