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Differential effect of Taraxacum officinale L. (dandelion) root extract on hepatic and testicular tissues of rats exposed to ionizing radiation

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Abstract

Exposure to high doses of radiation negatively impacts on human organs. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ) L. has been used as a traditional folk. This study was to investigate the effect of dandelion root extract (DRE) on radiation -induced hepatic and testicular tissues injury. Animals were exposed to 8.5 Gy of gamma radiation applied as a shot dose and DRE (200 mg/kg/day), was orally supplemented to rats 14 days before and after irradiation. The results showed that DRE administration attenuated oxidative stress in the liver and testis denoted by a significant reduction in the level of MDA and PCO with a marked elevation in GSH and the activity of SOD, CAT and Gpx. Moreover, DRE administration showed positive modulation in the activity of PNPase, GLDH and GSH-Ts. Additionally, these alterations were associated with a significant decrease in the activity of ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH with a marked increase of AL level. Further, elevated levels of testosterone, LH and inhibin B, as well as StAR and P450scc gene expression and Zn level with a decrease of FSH level were noticed. Also, DRE reduced the level of IL-1β, TNF-α, and caspase-3. Also administration of DRE significance diminished the histopathological changes in the hepatic and testicular tissues, denoted by a reduction in the necrotic and degenerative changes of hepatocytes or fibrinoid necrosis of congested central vein and improving the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue between the tubules of the testis. In conclusion, treatment with DRE pre-irradiation is effective on both liver and testicular tissues of rats. Meanwhile, in the case of post-radiation administration, DRE was more effective on testicular tissue than liver. So we suggest that it is better to use the dandelion before exposure to radiation rather than after it.

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Abbreviations

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

PCO:

Protein carbonyl

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

Gpx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GSH:

Glutathione

PNPase:

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase

GLDH:

Glutamate dehydrogenase

GSH-Ts:

Glutathione-S-transferases

AL:

Albumin

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

FSH:

Follicular stimulating hormone

LH:

Letulizing hormone

Zn:

Zinc

StAR:

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein

P450scc:

Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme

IL-1β:

Interleukin-1beta

TNF-α:

Tumor necrotic factor alpha

DRE:

Dandelion root extract

SEL:

Sesquiterpene

TS:

Lactones taraxasterol

CGA:

Taraxerol, chlorogenic acid

CRA:

Chicoric acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Biology Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), P.O. Box 29, Nasr City, 1234, Cairo, Egypt

    Nadia Abdel-Magied

  2. Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), P.O. Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Salma M. Abdel Fattah

  3. Health Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), P.O. Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Ahmed A. Elkady

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  1. Nadia Abdel-Magied
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  2. Salma M. Abdel Fattah
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Abdel-Magied, N., Abdel Fattah, S.M. & Elkady, A.A. Differential effect of Taraxacum officinale L. (dandelion) root extract on hepatic and testicular tissues of rats exposed to ionizing radiation. Mol Biol Rep 46, 4893–4907 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-019-04939-9

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