The study reported the radioprotective effects of some herbal plants in rats exposed to gamma-radiation. Male albino rats were treated orally with the ginger extract, GE (250 mg/kg) and black seed oil, BSO (250 mg/kg) separately and in a combination before and after the whole body-irradiation of 8 Gray γ-radiation dose. Glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), lipid peroxidation (LP) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were estimated in the blood. Haematological analysis was done at all treatments. The exposure of rats to γ-ray decreased the GSH content, CAT, SOD and GPx enzyme activities while increased the LP activity and NO levels. Treatment of irradiated rats with GE or BSO ameliorated the changed levels of antioxidants in comparison with the control levels. Also, the protective effect of mixture of both GE and BSO were observed, particularly for GPx, LP, and NO. The results of the haematological parameters showed that only platelet, lymphocyte, monocyte and neutrophil percent were ameliorated as compared with the control values when animals were given GE or BSO or in combination before and after irradiation. The current study revealed the radioprotective role of ginger extract and black seed oil as an antioxidant defense system inducer.
Key words: Zingiber officinale, Nigella sativa, Gamma radiation, Rats
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