%0 Journal Article %T Restoration of antioxidant flux and tissue pathology in jejunum of lethally irradiated mice pretreated with alcoholic fraction of Podophyllum hexandrum %A Sanghmitra Sankhwar %A M. Lata Gupta %A M. Sarvar Alam %A E. Ahmad Khan %J Journal of Experimental and Integrative Medicine %D 2012 %I GESDAV %X Objective: Current study had aimed to assess the role of alcoholic extract of Podophyllum hexandrum (G-001M) in minimizing radiation mediated injuries in gastrointestinal (GI) tissue of lethally irradiated mice. Methods: G-001M (6 mg/kg b.w) was administered intramuscularly 1 h prior to 10Gy whole body irradiation in strain A mice (total 279 mice were used in current study divided into various experimental groups). Biochemical indicators of oxidative stress such as lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in jejunum at different time intervals in various experimental groups. Histological changes in jejunum of all the groups were evaluated from 24 h to 30 days using Hematoxylin & Eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: Histological observations showed increase in cellular apoptosis in crypts of jejunum along with regression of mitosis, depletion of viable crypts and crypt/villous cells in irradiated mice (10Gy). Pretreatment of G-001M improved crypt survival, lowered apoptotic activity and enhanced mitotic index in intestine of irradiated animals. Increase in lipid peroxidation and depression in the levels of endogenous antioxidants like SOD, GSH and GR were observed after lethal radiation exposure. Prophylactic administration of G-001M in whole body irradiated mice significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and enhanced antioxidants level in jejunum. Conclusion: Current finding demonstrates significant protection delivered to gastrointestinal tract of mice exposed to lethal doses of gamma radiation by prophylactically administered Podophyllum hexandrum extract (G-001M). [J Exp Integr Med 2012; 2(2.000): 137-146] %K Cellular antioxidants %K Crypt survival %K Gamma radiation %K Jejunum %K Podophyllum hexandrum %K Radioprotection %U http://www.scopemed.org/mnstemps/4/4-1313152231.pdf