Protective role of Terminalia against γ-rays induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Background: Gamma-rays-induced cellular damages in the vital organs of rats. The study investigates the protective impacts of Terminalia (T. arjuna) against γ-rays induced cardiac injuries in rats. Materials and Methods: Dose A dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of T. arjuna was administered to male rats via gastric intubation for 30 days before whole body γ-irradiation (8 Gy). Results: The animals exposed to γ-rays showed a significant rise in levels of lipid-peroxidation (MDA), cardiac injury markers; Aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), inflammatory markers; tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and finally, reduced oxidative enzyme markers; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as compared to control group. The histopathological sections from irradiated rat group showed myocardium necrosis, loss of striations in myofibrils and leuckocytic infiltration. Pre-treatment with T. arjuna reduced the altered levels of these markers, which was further confirmed by histopathological observations. A tendency towards normal architectures of the myocardium was distinguished and a decrease in the degree of damages and inflammations in the myocytes was demonstrated. Conclusion: T. arjuna modifies antioxidants and inflammatory markers in rat heart and also prevents the myocardium from γ-rays-induced myocardial damages and should have prophylactic value in the prevention of heart toxicity.