The Protective Potency of Medemia argun (An Egyptian Palm) Against Oxidative Stress, and Tissue Injury Induced by γ-Radiation in Rats
Authors: Abdel-alim Mohamed Ebrahim Abdel-alim , Moussa H.R. Moussa , El-Saied Fathy A. El-Saied , Abd-Allah Moataz Ahmed Naguib Abd-Allah , Salim Nesrein Saad Salim 
Published: September 2022

Radiation damages living cells and affect all biological process in human body. Thereby, there is a magnificent interest for protecting patients from the aspect consequences radiotherapy and specialized professional workers by developing a natural antioxidant bio-drugs for amelioration of radiation hazards. Medemia argun (an Egyptian Palm) is a mysterious from northern Sudan and southern Egypt (Nubian desert oases). In ancient Egypt, Medemia argun (MA) dried dates have found in the famed tomb of Tutankhamun. Globally, this is first study related to the metabolomics and biological efficiency of MA in alleviating the harmful effect of γ-irradiation. This work highlights the ameliorative role of MA ethanolic seed’s extract, as a natural promising functional food ingredient in alleviating radiation hazard via its antioxidative properties, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptoic and cell regeneration abilities. In this search, we have estimated the LD50 of MA ethanolic seed’s extract in vivo using male Wistar albino rats. The obtained results showed that 200 mg/kg b.wt. is the recommended dose. Rats were randomly splited into four groups. Group I: Represent as control (normal rats), that were received normal food and water daily for six weeks. Group II. Rats subjected to gamma radiation (6 Gy), a single dose of whole body after one week of the experiment. Group III. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 200 mg/kg b.wt. of MA ethanolic seed’s extract twice/week for six weeks. Group IV. Rats subjected to gamma radiation (6 Gy), a single dose of whole body after one week of the experiment, then injected intraperitoneally with MA ethanolic seed’s extract (200 mg/kg b.wt.) twice/week for six weeks. Each group contains 15 rats. γ-radiation treatment caused a significant increase in DNA fragmentation, NO, MDA, inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, HsP70, IL-6, IL-10, 8-OH-dG, CASP-3, MPC-1, and MMP-9), and liver function (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, and AFP). Also, there is a significant decrease in GSH, SOD, CAT, POD, T. protein, and albumin. Conversely, MA (200 mg/Kg b.wt.) treatment for 6 weeks effectively reflects most of the altered measurements induced by γ-radiation. The potent therapeutic efficacy of MA was manifested in repairing the DNA fragmentation induced by γ-irradiation and this improvement confirmed by decrease in the concentration of 8-OH-dG. To assess the biological activities and beneficial effect of the ethanolic extract of MA seed’s in ameliorating the radiation hazards in rats, phytochemical analysis, were estimated which revealed presence of many beneficial natural health compounds such as, polyphenols (phenolics and flavonoids), proanthocyanidin (condensed tannins), saponins, protein and carbohydrate. Furthermore, histopathological examinations showed significant adverse deleterious changes in the structure of liver tissue due to exposure to γ-radiation, while treatment with MA maintains the cellular structure of the liver without the appearance of any changes. Biochemical data came to agree with the histopathological observations. There are no published reports of the radioprotective role of Medemia argun in rats. Our results showed that MA can be used during radiotherapy as a natural therapeutic drug due to its valuable nutritional benefits, safe, nature and low cost.