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Ethanolic extracts of two controversial medicinal plants Andrographis paniculata (ApE) and Swertia chirayita (ScE) were evaluated for its potential to enhance the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage. Post-irradiation administration of these extracts to mice resulted in faster cellular DNA repair, as revealed from the increased Cellular Repair Index (CRI) of blood leukocytes. Exposure of mice to 2 Gy whole-body gamma radiation resulted in the formation of strand breaks of cellular DNA of bone marrow cells and the unrepaired strand breaks eventually lead to the formation of micronuclei in the reticulocytes. Administration of ApE and ScE under post-irradiation conditions showed a decrease in the number of micronucleated reticulocytes. Administration of these extracts also aided in the regeneration of the immune system as revealed from the induction of endogenous spleen colony formation in mice exposed to whole body gamma radiation. Thus, the studies revealed that ethanolic extracts of Andrographis paniculata and Swertia chirayita abetted the revival of immune system following radiation exposure and the induction of faster and legitimate DNA repair can be the underlying mechanism.
Administration of commonly used anticancer drug cisplatin [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum
(II)] at pharmacologically relevant concentrations (12 mg/kg
body weight) resulted in severe renal toxicity as evidenced from histopathological
observations and biochemical alterations in the renal tissue. The extracts of
medicinal plants Hemidesmus indicus L. (Apocynaceae) and Acorus calamus
L. (Araceae) protected the renal tissue effectively from cisplatin-induced toxicity.
Treatment of cisplatin-administered animals with the plant extracts could prevent
the drug-induced oxidative damage in the renal tissue as evidenced from the decreased
levels of lipid peroxidation and enhanced activities of the antioxidants in the
renal tissue. Cisplatin treatment increased serum urea level to 41.3 ± 2.86 mg/dL
and administration of the extracts of H. indicus and A. calamus
brought down the level to 34.54 ± 0.37
and 30.12 ± 0.95 mg/dL,
respectively. Serum creatinine levels were increased to 1.1 ± 0.02 mg/dL
following cisplatin administration, and treatment with extracts of H. indicus
and A. calamus brought this down to 0.76 ± 0.09
and 0.61 ± 0.06 mg/dL,
respectively. The histopathological observations indicated that treatment with
the H. indicus and A. calamus extracts restored the cisplatin-induced
structural alterations in the renal tissue.
