Protective effect of Camellia nitidissima Chi on γ rays radiation-induced hematopoietic and gastrointestinal damage

Abstract

Objective: Camellia nitidissima Chi, a Chinese medicine commonly used by ethnic minorities in Guangxi, China, is beneficial for clearing heat, detoxifying, inducing diuresis, and suppressing swelling. It has various pharmacological properties, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. However, its potential application in radioprotection remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether Camellia nitidissima Chi has radioprotective effects against radiation-induced gastrointestinal and hematopoietic damage.
Methods: The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) techniques were used to assess the ability of Camellia nitidissima Chi to scavenge free radicals. We conducted a 30-day survival rate experiment to evaluate the radioprotective capabilities of Camellia nitidissima Chi. Additionally, we developed models of radiation-induced intestinal and hematopoietic damage. Alterations in the white blood cell (WBC) count, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione (GSH), and protein expression linked to apoptosis were observed.
Results: Camellia nitidissima Chi scavenged 84.72% and 93.47% of DPPH and ABTS, had a certain radiation protection potential, and increased the survival rate of mice to over 90%. Moreover, following exposure, Camellia nitidissima Chi enhanced WBC, T-SOD, and GSH levels. Camellia nitidissima Chi increased B-cell lymphoma-extra large (BCL-XL) expression and suppressed Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX) expression, providing radioprotection to cells.
Conclusions: Camellia nitidissima Chi has a strong antioxidant ability; it can improve the survival rate of mice after lethal dose irradiation and protect against radiation-induced hematopoietic and gastrointestinal damage. These findings can serve as a guide for using Chinese medicines for radioprotection.

Keywords

Antioxidant capacity / Camellia nitidissima Chi / Gastrointestinal system / Hematopoietic system / Radioprotection

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82303681 and 82202950), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (3332022063), and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-042). The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82202950) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (3332022063) were held by Feifei Xu, who participated in the research design. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82303681) was held by Wenfeng Gou, who participated in the research design. The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-042) was held by Wenbin Hou, who designed and conceived the study.

Author contributions

Zhiyun Wang and Haihua Shang designed and conceived the study, performed relevant analyses, and drafted the manuscript. Wenfeng Gou and Feifei Xu participated in the research design. Yue Hou, Gaiting Liu, Zhonghao Ren, Yuhua Tian, and Yiliang Li acquired and analyzed the data. Wei Li, Yuefei Wang, and Wenbin Hou designed and conceived the study. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Ethical approval of studies and informed consent

This study was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, under the ethics number: IRM-DWLL-20211218, IRMDWLL-20211219, IRM-DWLL-20211220.

Acknowledgments

None.

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its SDC files).

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