Influence of Rosemarinus officinalis extract on radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice.

The radioprotective effect of Rosemarinus officinalis extract (ROE) was studied in mice exposed to 3 Gy gamma radiation. Crypt survival, villus length, apoptotic cells, mitotic figures and goblet cells in intestine were studied at different autopsy intervals i.e. 12 hrs to 30 days after irradiation. Maximum changes in all the intestinal parameters were observed on day 3 after irradiation. Irradiated animals with ROE pretreatment exhibited a significant increase in the number of crypt cells, mitotic figures and villus length; whereas a significant decrease in the counts of apoptotic and goblet cells showed a significant decrease respective controls at all the autopsy intervals. Irradiation of animals resulted an elevation in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in glutathione concentration in the intestine at 1 hour post-irradiation. In contrast, ROE treatment before irradiation caused a significant depletion in lipid peroxidation and elevation in glutathione levels.