Radioprotective property of Emblica officinalis fruit ethanol extract

Abstract

The radioprotective activity of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae) ethanol extract (EOE) has been studied using rat liver mitochondria and pBR 322 plasmid DNA as two model in vitro systems. EOE could effectively prevent γ-ray-induced lipid peroxidation as assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substrates, lipid hydroperoxide, and conjugated diene. It also protected mitochondrial SOD against γ-ray-induced damage. Likewise, it prevented radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner. The radioprotective activity of EOE could be attributed to its hydroxyl and superoxide radicals scavenging property along with its lymphoproliferative activity. The radical scavenging capacity of EOE could be attributed to its constituent phenolics. The in vitro radioprotective activity of EOE was significantly better compared with the in vivo results reported earlier by others with the aqueous extract or fruit pulp of E. officinalis. The higher concentrations of the more bioavailable phenolics such as gallic acid and ellagic acid in EOE compared with the other preparations might possibly account for the results. © 2006 Informa Healthcare.