Protective Effect of Herniarin on the Ionizing Radiation-Induced Alterations of Erythrocyte Membrane Proteins

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to the intensification of oxidizing processes that directly or indirectly alter target molecules forming reactive oxygen species targeting cell membrane lipids and proteins. There is a need for new antioxidants to reduce the effects of ionizing radiation. OBJECTIVES Our study aimed to determine changes in the absorption spectrum of erythrocyte membrane proteins in gamma-irradiated mice and evaluate the potential protective effect of the antioxidant Herniarin. METHODS Overall, 18 2-month-old mice were distributed evenly among the control (group I) and two experimental (group II and group III) groups. The whole-body irradiation of experimental mice with 137Cs was performed at a dose rate of 1,1 Gy/min for a total dose of 5 Gy with a “Gamma- capsule-2”, and animals of group 3 were treated with Herniarin (20 mg/kg) for five days before and one hour after irradiation. The erythrocyte membrane was separated using Hast Method, and absorbance spectra were measured with a spectrophotometer at 280 nm wavelength (Spectro UV-UIS BEAM 8 AUTO CELL [UVS-2800]) on 2nd, 7th, 14th and 30th post-irradiation days. RESULTS The Herniarin-treated mice showed approximately the same results as irradiated mice on the 2nd and 7th post-irradiation days. Furthermore, on days 14 and 30 absorption spectrum of erythrocyte membrane proteins significantly increased (P<0.05) in the Herniarin-treated experimental group. CONCLUSIONS The ionizing irradiation induces a decrease in the intensity of the erythrocyte membrane absorption spectrum at 280 nm due to intensive tyrosine-phosphorylation of B3p under oxidative stress conditions. Impairments manifested on post-irradiation day 7, were preserved during the whole post-irradiation period. Herniarin, as a potent antioxidant, significantly amplified the absorption spectrum compared to the control group on days 14 and 30 of the post-irradiation period.