Radioprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Alocasia indica on γ-irradiation-induced reproductive alterations in ovary and uterus

Abstract

Evaluation of the modulatory effect of ethanolic extract of Alocasia indica tuber (EEAIT) against γ-irradiation induced ovarian and uterine toxicity. Extract preparation was done by 80% hydro-ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus. EEAIT was administered to female Swiss albino mice (n = 5) daily (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight/d) for 7 days before γ-irradiation exposure (2.9 Gy). FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress parameters were measured after 24 hours of γ-irradiation. Histology, folliculogenesis, viability of granulosa cells, ROS measurement by flow cytometry, western blot of P450scc, P45017A1, 3β HSD and SF 1 were also performed. In addition, fertility status was assessed by fecundability and fecundity. The results showed that EEAIT exhibit a strong radioprotective activity by reducing the oxidative stress and thereby restored the ovarian and uterine alterations. EEAIT also improved the abnormality in follicle development, restored altered gonadal hormones and cytokines levels, increase the fertility status, reducing ROS level of granulosa cells with increasing granulosa cells viability and steroidogenic enzyme activity as compared to control. So EEAIT showed a radioprotective effect on γ-irradiation induced ovarian and uterine damage. Our results suggested that Alocasia indica tuber can be a potential radioprotector to prevent female infertility.

Keywords:

• Alocasia indica
• γ-irradiation
• oxidative stress
• ovarian failure
• radioprotection

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Dr. (Mrs.) Mita Chatterjee Debnath, Principal Technical Officer, Division of Cancer Biology & Inflammatory Disorder and the Director, Dr. Samit Chattopadhyay, Director, IICB, Jadavpur, India for providing the irradiation facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Authors are grateful to Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India for financial assistance in the form of the research project (Reference no. BT/BioCARe/07/10030/2013-14) sanctioned to Dr. Swagata Pal.

Notes on contributors

Shilpi K. Prasad

Shilpi Kumari Prasad obtained her Post Graduate degree in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. She is a PhD student at the Department of Physiology, Serampore College, University of Calcutta, India. Her primary research interest has been the study of radioprotective effect of plant based compounds.

Ananya Bose

Ananya Bose obtained her Post Graduate degree in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. Her research interests are stress biology, occupational health and radiation biology.

Ankita Bhattacharjee

Ankita Bhattacharjee obtained her Post Graduate degree in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. She is awaiting the conferral of PhD degree in Physiology under University of Calcutta. She has made a contribution to explain the nutritional intervention of nicotine mediated islet cell dysfunction.

Oly Banerjee

Oly Banerjee obtained her Post Graduate degree in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. She is a PhD student at the Department of Physiology, Serampore College, University of Calcutta, India. She is currently involved in the study of understanding of metabolic disorders and endocrine disruptors.

Siddhartha Singh

Siddhartha Singh obtained his Post Graduate degree in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. He is a PhD student at the Department of Physiology, Serampore College, University of Calcutta, India. His primary research interest focuses on environmental toxicants and endocrine and reproductive disorders.

Sandip Mukherjee

Sandip Mukherjee received his PhD degree from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) of Physiology at Serampore College, University of Calcutta, India and is actually engaged in teaching and research.

Swagata Pal

Swagata Pal received her PhD degree from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at Raja Peary Mohan College, University of Calcutta, India and is actually engaged in teaching and research.