The radioprotective efficacy of Opuntia elatior different extracts viz. Acetone and Petroleum Ether was investigated in Swiss albino mice at 6 Gy of gamma radiation.4 groups were divided in the presence (experimental) or absence (control) of Opuntia extract 10 mg/kg body wt.) to know the concentration of Reduced glutathione (GSH) and Lipid peroxidation (LPO) activity. Group I was kept without any treatment as control, Group II treated with 10 mg/kg body weight dose of plant extract, Group IV treated with Opuntia elatior extract (10 mg/kg body weight) and 6 Gy gamma irradiation dose, Group III treated with 6 Gy gamma irradiation only. These animals were scarified and their spleen was dissected out and further biochemical parameters were studied. In the present investigation effect of acetone and petroleum ether extract of stem was observed on levels of LPO and GSH. When studies on GSH was done it was observed that level was again decreased in group exposed to gamma radiation which improvement after treatment with plant dose (10.88 to 12.49). On increasing time interval it was observed that in all the groups GSH content increased along with time intervals i.e. maximum at 30 days. Further when LPO was done it was observed that it was maximum in group treated with gamma radiation only (71.44) which decreased thereafter when treated along with plant dose (66.17). It was observed that level was increased from 1 day to 30 days except on day 30, when it was decreased. In case of GSH the value decreased in all the groups. When time interval was counted we observed that GSH level increased in all the groups along with increase in time duration. Here also we observed that LPO increased in group treated with gamma radiation which thereafter reduced when treated with plant extract. With the increase in time interval its level was increased except in the group treated with plant dose along with radiation on 30th day where level decreased. Artificial chemicals generally recommended as radioprotectants but since they high toxicity and side effects, their consumption is limited, plant based radioprotectant’s may act as efficient resource due to non toxic nature without side effects.
Keywords: Opuntia Elatior, Gamma Radiation, GSH, LPO, Mouse.
