Jamun, Syzygium cumini Linn. Skeels, increases the survival of mice whole body exposed to different doses of γ-radiation

The radioprotective effect of leaf extract of jamun, Syzygium cumini was studied in mice exposed to different doses of γ-radiation. Acute toxicity of jamun (Syzygium cumini) extract were determined initially. Animals were orally administered once daily with different doses of jamun extract for 5 consecutive days before exposure to 10 Gy γ-radiation for selection of optimum radioprotective dose. Symptoms of radiation-sickness and the survival of the animals were monitored for 30 days after the irradiation. Administration of jamun extract for five consecutive days increased the survival of animals in a dose dependent manner up to a dose of 50 mg/kg and then declined steadily up to 300 mg/kg. Further studies with 50 mg/kg extract showed that oral administration of jamun extract for five continuous days protected mice against the radiation-induced sickness and increased the survival. Whole body irradiation only of mice increased lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione concentration in a dose dependent manner, whereas treatment of mice with 50 mg/kg jamun extract significantly increased glutathione concentration and reduced the lipid peroxidation. Free radical scavenging and increase in glutathione and reduction in lipid peroxidation may have contributed to the observed radioprotection. Jamun extract protected mice against the radiation-induced sickness and mortality.