α-Lipoic acid protects against γ-rays-induced cardiac injury in rats

Tawfik, Sameh S.; Ebraheim, Rehab M.; El Khouly, Wael A.

doi:10.21608/ejrsa.2025.374406.1183

α-Lipoic acid protects against γ-rays-induced cardiac injury in rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Health Radiation Research Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box, 29 Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

² Radiation Protection Department, Nuclear and Radiation Safety Research Center (NRSRC), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box, 29 Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/ejrsa.2025.374406.1183

Abstract

α-Lipoic acid is found in some mammalian and plant tissues. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that oral administration of α-lipoic acid causes protection against cardiac injury in γ-irradiated rats.
A group of rats was exposed to a single session of 6 Gy γ-rays and compared with three other groups: a control group (received vehicle only), an α-lipoic acid-treated group (received 100 mg/kg body weight orally for 10 days), and a combined treatment group (received 6 Gy γ-radiation along with α-lipoic acid for 10 days).
The effect of radiation was indicated by an increase in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatin Kinase MB (CK-MB), myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), malondialdehydes (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), and cytokine IL-6 (IL-6) and a significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), ferric reducing ability (FRA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations.
α-Lipoic acid supplementation to γ-rays group ameliorates all parameters alteration occurred in blood and rat cardiac tissues, suggesting the existence of a compensatory increase of antioxidant defences.
It could be postulated that α-lipoic as a functional dietary supplement could exert a modulator role in the radiation-induced cardiac injury through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

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