Opuntia elatior Mill. is a folklore medicinal plant and contains malate of manganese, resin, and many other compounds. The present study was planned to explore the preventive potential of a moderate dose of Opuntia elatior (OE) against toxicity induced by gamma radiation (6 Gy) in mouse spleen. A moderate dose of OE (10 mg/kg body weight) was given orally to adult mice, before whole body irradiation. The mice were irradiated whole body with 6 Gy gamma radiation with and without Opuntia elatior pretreatment. Chloroform and Ethanol extracts were given to two separate groups of mice. Mice were sacrificed at 1,3,5,7,10,14 and 30^th days post-irradiation and the spleen was removed. Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and catalase activity were measured. As compared to chloroform extracts, ethanol extracts of O. elatior stem significantly increased the activities of CAT and SOD. Ethanolic extract of O. elatior was more effective than its chloroform extract. It may be due to the extraction of more powerful components of O. elatior in ethanol. In conclusion, the results suggested that ethanol stem extracts of O. elatior can be used as less expensive, non-toxic eco-friendly radioprotectors.

Keywords: Gamma Radiation, Spleen, Catalase Activity, Superoxide Dismutase Activity.