Protective effect of triphala on radiation induced acute intestinal mucosal damage in Sprague Dawley rats

Abstract

Aim of the study was to determine protective effect of triphala on radiation-induced rectal mucosal damage. Male Sprague Dawley rats (30) were divided into 5 groups. Rats in group A were sham irradiated and rats in group B underwent only irradiation. Rats in group C were administered triphala 1g/kg/day orally for 5 consecutive days before irradiation. Rats in group D and E were administered triphala 1 and 1.5 g/kg/day orally for 10 consecutive days, respectively. Rectal mucosal damage was induced by a single fraction of 12.5Gy gamma irradiation (Ir-192) on 5^th day. All the rats were autopsied on 11^th day and histological changes in surface epithelium, glands, and lamina propria were assessed. Proctitis showed significant improvement in surface epithelium (<i style="">P</i><0.024), glands (<i style="">P</i><0.000) and lamina propria (<i style="">P</i><0.002) in group E compared to group B. Rats in group E showed significantly less change in glands (<i style="">P</i><0.000) compared to rats in group D, All histological variables (surface epithelium, <i style="">P</i><0.001; glands, <i style="">P</i><0.000; lamina propria, <i style="">P</i><0.003) compared to rats in group C. In a Tukey-<i style="">b</i> test, group E had a significantly recovered grade for glands (<i style="">P</i><0.000) compared to groups B, C and D. Results of the present study showed that high-dose triphala improved radiation-induced damage of glands.