Aim:
In this study, we aimed to determine possible mitigation of radiationinduced
toxicities in the duodenum, jejunum and colon using post-exposure treatment with
resveratrol and alpha-lipoic acid.
Background:
After the bone marrow, gastrointestinal system toxicity is the second critical
cause of death following whole-body exposure to radiation. Its side effects reduce the quality
of life of patients who have undergone radiotherapy. Resveratrol has an antioxidant effect
and stimulates DNA damage responses (DDRs). Alpha-lipoic acid neutralizes free radicals
via the recycling of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol.
Objective:
This study is a pilot investigation of the mitigation of enteritis using resveratrol
and alpha-lipoic acid following histopathological study.
Methods:
60 male mice were randomly assigned to six groups; control, resveratrol treatment,
alpha-lipoic acid treatment, whole-body irradiation, irradiation plus resveratrol, and
irradiation plus alpha-lipoic acid. The mice were irradiated with a single dose of 7 Gy from
a cobalt-60 gamma-ray source. Treatment with resveratrol or alpha-lipoic acid started 24 h
after irradiation and continued for 4 weeks. All mice were sacrificed after 30 days for histopathological
evaluation of radiation-induced toxicities in the duodenum, jejunum and colon.
Results and Conclusion:
Exposure to radiation caused mild to severe damages to vessels,
goblet cells and villous. It also led to significant infiltration of macrophages and leukocytes,
especially in the colon. Both resveratrol and alpha-lipoic acid were able to mitigate
morphological changes. However, they could not mitigate vascular injury.
Conclusion:
Resveratrol and alpha-lipoic acid could mitigate radiation-induced injuries in
the small and large intestine. A comparison between these agents showed that resveratrol
may be a more effective mitigator compared to alpha-lipoic acid.
The Association between Ranitidine Use and Gastrointestinal Cancers
