A focusing study on radioprotective and antioxidant effects of Annona muricata leaf extract in the circulation and liver tissue: Clinical and experimental studies

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigates the effect of Annona muricata (AM) leaf extract against irradiation-induced damage by the evaluation of hepatic tissue and the levels of oxidative and inflammatory stress in the circulation. Methods: An experimental study with 37 female Wistar albino rats randomized into four groups (controls and three intervention groups) was performed. The first interventional group (group 2) received 300 mg/kg of AM leaf extract by oral gavage once a day for 9 days, group 3 received a single dose of whole-body radiation (8.3 Gy) after a 9-day oral gavage treatment with saline, and the last group received the same irradiation of 8.3 Gy after being treated with 300 mg/kg of AM leaf extract by oral gavage once a day for 9 days. Results: Radiation was found to elevate reactive oxygen species parameters, and AM administration before irradiation was found to decrease total oxidant status (TOS), increase caspase 9, and improve hepatic damage when compared with the group that received only irradiation. Conclusion: The damage caused by irradiation may be ameliorated by the use of the AM extract, which appears to be effective in preventing oxidative stress and inflammatory activity.