Radioprotective Effect of Ursolic Acid and Arabinogalactan Compositions in CD-1 Mice after a Single X-Ray Irradiation

Purpose: Experimental evaluation of radioprotective effects of ursolic acid (UA) and arabinogalactan (AG) compositions in CD-1 mice after a single sub-lethal X-ray irradiation. Material and methods: The study was conducted on outbred male CD-1 mice weighing 25–30 g. Single total irradiation was performed on X-RAD 320 X-ray at a dose of 5 Gy. Test substances and their compositions in different ratios were administered for two weeks before and four weeks after irradiation. The severity of radiation damage and treatment effects were assessed in dynamics by survival rate, body weight, hematological parameters of blood, histological examination of thymus, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys. Results: After irradiation with a dose of 5 Gy, the mortality rate of animals in the NC, AG100, AG200, UA:AG100:100, UA:AG50:200, UA:AG100:400 groups were 50 %, in the UA100 group – 40 %, and in the UA:AG100:200 – 30 %. In addition, on the 28th day after irradiation, partial recovery of hematological parameters relative to intact control was observed in the groups UA50, UA100, AG100, AG200, UA:AG100:100, UA:AG50:100, UA:AG100:400. Application of the UA:AG100:200 composition contributed to a statistically significant recovery of leukocytes, erythrocytes and hemoglobin number from the 14th to the 28th day after irradiation in comparison with the negative control group, as well as the recovery on the 28th day after irradiation of all studied hematological blood parameters to the values of intact control. In irradiated animals that received UA individually and in combination with AG, positive dynamics of reparative processes were noted, which were manifested to a greater extent in liver and kidneys. Conclusion: The inclusion of UА in a composition with AG at a dose of 100:200 mg/kg led to a decrease in the toxic effects of X-ray radiation on CD-1 mice body, namely, positive dynamics of hematological parameters of blood, reparative processes in liver and kidneys, as well as an increase in animal survival of up to 70 % compared with negative controls, which indicates the prospects for further studies of UA compositions effects in comparison with a registered radioprotective drug as a positive control against exposure to ionizing radiation.