RADIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF OPUNTIA ELATIOR ON BLOOD OF SWISS ALBINO MICE

The modulatory effect of Opuntia elatior stem extract was studied in Swiss albino mice at dose 6 Gy of gamma radiation. Four groups were divided in the presence (experimental) or absence (control) of Opuntia extract 10 mg/kg body wt.) to observe hematological alterations. Four groups are Group I without any treatment as control, Group II treated with 10 mg/kg body weight dose of plant Opuntia elatior extract, Group III treated with Opuntia elatior extract (10 mg/kg body weight) and 6 Gy gamma irradiation dose, Group IV treated with 6 Gy gamma irradiation .These animals were scarified and their blood was collected by heart puncture from the syringe in the EDTA filled viles at days 1, 15 and 30 post-irradiations. There was no variation in RBC and WBC counts including hemoglobin content in the control group (without any treatment); but significantly decreased in 6 Gy gamma irradiation treated group IV, whereas a recovery pattern was recorded in experimental animals (Group II and Group III) and a normal value of hematological parameters were regained by day 30 post-treatment after treatment with plant extracts as compared to radiation group with some variations. Synthetic chemicals were used to as radioprotective agents but because of their high toxicity and side effects, they were not as useful as we thought, so natural products (plant extract) may offer as potential radioprotector due to their low toxicity and side effects.