Whole body protection to lethally irradiated mice by oral administration of semipurified fraction of Podophyllum hexandrum and post irradiation treatment of Picrorhiza kurroa

Objective: To evaluate the radioprotective potential of alcoholic fraction of Podophyllum hexandrum rhizomes (REC-2001) individually as well as in combination with Picrorhiza kurroa administered orally in lethally irradiated Swiss albino mice. Methods: the study was divided into different treatment groups. Whole body survival was observed upto 30 days in all the treatment groups. Besides survival, toxicity of EEC- 2001 was also evaluated. All the groups were studied for spleen endogenous colony forming units (CFUs), plasma antioxidant potential and hematological variables, using standard techniques. Results: Animals in radiation alone group died with in 12 days of exposure. Single dose of REC-2001 which did not bring any toxic manifestation/mortality (MTD) was found to be 155 mg/kg b.w. on administration of 250 mg/kg b.w. (single dose) 50% of the animals died (LD50), while a dose of 350 mg/kg b.w. of REC-2001 brought 100% death. oral administration of single dose of REC-2001 (25mg/kg b.w. -1h) prior to irradiation (10Gy) was observed rendering up to 48 % protection. Survival enhanced to the level of 55% when the animals had pre- treatment of REC-2001 (25mg/kg b.w. -1h) followed by irradiation (10Gy) and post treatment with a single dose of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome extract (pkre, 8mg/kg b.w.+1h). Radiation induced plasma antioxidant status was significantly (P<0.02) countered by REC-2001 administration. Post treatment of pkre elevated CFU counts (P<0.05). Total leukocytes count and hemoglobin content in REC-2001 pretreated and pkre post treated group approached normal limits within 30 days of the study. Conclusion: REC-2001 in combination with pkre holds promise for further studies to achieve radioprotection against lethal radiation by oral administration.