The evaluation of the radioprotective effect of chyavanaprasha (an ayurvedic rasayana drug) in mice exposed to lethal dose of γ‐radiation: a preliminary study

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Abstract
The effect of various doses of 50% ethanolic extract of chyavanaprasha (an Ayurvedic rejuvenating herbal preparation) was studied on the survival of mice exposed to 10 Gy of γ‐radiation. Treatment with chyavanaprasha, consecutively for five days before irradiation, delayed symptoms of radiation sickness and onset of mortality when compared with the non‐drug treated irradiated controls. All doses of chyavanaprasha provided a significant protection against gastrointestinal (GI) death (death of animals within 10 days after exposure to radiation), however, highest protection against GI death was observed for 15 mg/kg chyavanaprasha. Chyavanaprasha also provided a significant protection against the bone marrow death after 10 to 40 mg/kg. However, the best protection was seen for 15 mg/kg, where the highest number of survivors was observed at the end of 30 days post‐irradiation. The drug was non‐toxic up to a dose of 6 g/kg b. wt., the highest drug dose that could be tested. Our study demonstrates that chyavanaprasha can provide good radioprotection at a very low non‐toxic dose. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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