Protective effect of hesperidin, a citrus flavanoglycone, against γ-radiation-induced tissue damage in Sprague-Dawley rats

J Med Food. 2012 May;15(5):419-27. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2011.1737. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of hesperidin, a citrus flavanoglycone, against γ-radiation-induced cellular damage in the liver, heart, and kidney of rats. Whole-body γ-radiation exposure (5 Gy) of healthy adult rats resulted in cellular damage and oxidative stress manifested as increased levels of serum marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and fibrosis in the tissues, accompanied by depletion of cellular glutathione and abnormal alteration in the levels of lysosomal enzymes. Treatment with hesperidin (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days was found to offer significant protection against γ-radiation-induced toxicity in the tissues, which was evident by the improved status of most of the parameters investigated. Further, the histological examination of periodic acid-Schiff-stained tissue sections of animals treated with hesperidin following radiation exposure showed minimal necrotic damage with a recovery pattern in a dose-dependent manner compared with radiation-exposed animals. The results of our study show that administration of hesperidin offers effective protection against γ-radiation-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gamma Rays / adverse effects*
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / radiation effects
  • Hesperidin / pharmacology
  • Hesperidin / therapeutic use*
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney / radiation effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / radiation effects
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Necrosis / drug therapy
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Radiation Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Radiation Injuries / pathology
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacology
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Whole-Body Irradiation

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Hesperidin