Anticancer and Radiosensitization Efficacy of Nanocomposite Withania somnifera Extract in Mice Bearing Tumor Cells.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anticancer and radio-sensitizing efficacy of a Withania somnifera extract/Gadolinium III oxide nanocomposite (WSGNC) in mice. WSGNC was injected to solid Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice via i.p. (227 mg/kg body weight) 3 times/week during 3 weeks. Irradiation was performed by whole body fractionated exposure to 6Gy, applied in 3 doses of 2 Gy/week over 3 weeks. Biochemical analyses as well as DNA fragmentation were performed. Treatment of solid Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice with WSGNC combined with γ-radiation led to a significant decrease in the tumor size and weight associated with a significant decrease in mitochondrial enzyme activities, GSH content and SOD activity as well as a significant increase in caspase-3 activity, MDA concentration and DNA fragmentation in cancer tissues. Combined treatment of WSGNC and low dose of γ-radiation showed great amelioration in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status (GSH content and SOD activity) in liver tissues in animals bearing tumors. It is concluded that WSGNC can be considered as a radio-sensitizer and anticancer modulator, suggesting a possible role in reducing the radiation exposure dose during radiotherapy.

Lycopene protects the structure of the small intestine against gamma-radiation-induced oxidative stress.

The small intestine displays numerous morphological and functional alterations after exposure to ionizing radiations. Oxidative stress and changes in monoamines levels may contribute toward some of these alterations. The objective of the current work is to evaluate the efficacy of lycopene on radiation-induced damage in the small intestine. Lycopene (5 mg/kg BW) was given to male albino rats, via gavages for 7 days before whole body exposure to gamma ray (6 Gy). Irradiated animals, sacrificed 7 days after irradiation, showed sloughing villi, ulcers, and ruptured goblet cells, shrinkage of submucosa layers, more fibers and fibroblasts. Histopathological changes were associated with a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and alteration in xanthine oxidoreductase system (XOR). In parallel, significant decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were recorded. Gamma irradiation has also induced a significant decrease in the level of monoamines: serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI) associated with an increase in monoamine-oxidase (MAO) activity. Lycopene pretreatment has significantly improved the oxidant/antioxidant status, which was associated with significant regeneration of the small intestine, and improved monoamines levels. Based on these results, it is concluded that lycopene may protect the small intestine against radiation-induced damage.