Radioprotective Effect of Ferula Asafoetida Oleo-Gum Resin on Ionizing Radiation–Induced Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage in Rats

Introduction: Protective agents against harmful radiation have been studied for decades. Antioxidants can protect normal tissues by scavenging free radicals generated during irradiation. Ferula asafoetida (AS), a medicinal plant with antioxidant activity, was evaluated in this study for its protective effect against radiation-induced small intestinal injury in rats.Material and Methods: Thirty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=۷): control, irradiated (R), irradiated+AS (R+AS), irradiated+vitamin E (R+E), and irradiated+AS+E (R+AS+E). Treatments included AS (۱۰۰ mg/kg) and/or vitamin E (۲۰ mg/kg) daily for eight days. On day six, irradiated groups received ۶ Gy X-rays (۶ MV, Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden). On day eight, rats were euthanized and intestine and liver tissues collected. Histopathology, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed.Results: AS significantly reduced MDA and increased GSH levels in both intestine and liver. Vitamin E showed weaker effects. The combination of AS and vitamin E did not consistently enhance AS activity. Histological analysis revealed that AS reduced inflammation and atrophy, while vitamin E alone or combined with AS lowered inflammation and epithelial erosion. Neither treatment increased mucous cell counts.Conclusion: AS exerted notable antioxidant and radioprotective effects against intestinal damage in rats, indicating its potential as a natural agent for mitigating radiation-induced injury.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ferula Asafoetida ، Radiation Protection ، Small intestine ، Vitamin E ، Oxidative stress