The present study was designed to determine the possible protective and therapeutic effects of olive oil, Ficus carica and
both against radiation induced oxidative stress and biochemical changes in liver of albino rats. A patch of 114 male Wister
albino rats averaged weights 120±5 g at the beginning of the experiment were divided into 8 main groups and 19 subgroups according to the treatment and requirements of the experiment. Irradiation was performed by whole body exposure of rats to an acute single dose gamma radiation of 6 Gy. Irradiated rats received, via gavage, extra virgin olive oil (7.6 ml/kg b.wt), extract of Ficus carica fruit (1 g/kg b.wt) and the combined supplementation of both Ficus carica (1 g/kg b.wt) and extra virgin olive oil (7.6 ml/kg b.wt) before and/or after radiation exposure. Six rats were sacrificed on the 1st and 15th day post irradiation exposure at the control, treated and pretreated irradiated subgroups. In addition, six rats were sacrificed from the post-treated irradiated subgroups on the 15th day post irradiation exposure.
In the present study, γ- irradiation induced dramatic results of all parameters and sever antioxidant and detoxification enzyme depletion. Exposure to γ- radiation resulted in a significant elevation of some hepatic parameters (TBARS, AOPP, SOD, ASAT, ALAT, and ALP) and a significant decrease in some other parameters (CAT, GSH and NO). Moreover, the present study showed a significant decrease in total protein, and albumin on the 1st and 15th day post-irradiation as compared to the control. The administration of the olive oil or Ficus carica or both had a beneficial result against the deleterious effects of γ-irradiation. In addition, all treatments showed a significant increase in TBARS and AOPP levels, enhance SOD and CAT activities, and improve GSH and NO concentrations in the liver homogenate. Furthermore, significant amelioration in the serum liver function enzymes activities (ASAT, ALAT and ALP), total protein, and albumin were observed in comparison to irradiated rats. A better ameliorative effect was noticed with the combined extra virgin olive oil and Ficus carica treatments that revealed the synergistic effect between them. In conclusion, according to the results obtained the administration of the olive oil or Ficus carica or both provides considerable radioprotective and radiotherapeutic effects against whole body γ- radiation in male Wister albino rats by preventing oxidative stress through ROS scavenger.