Abstract
In view of the widespread incidence of arsenic poisoning around the world, it was necessary to study this phenomenon and analyze it to find out how to treat it through the application of alternative medicine. Gamma irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment of food and herbal materials is increasingly recognized throughout the world by improving their hygienic quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of raw or irradiated basil on rats exposed to arsenic toxicity. Basil was irradiated by gamma rays at dose 10 KGy. Forty-eight adult Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups as follows group-1: Control group, group-2: received 400 mg/kg of aqueous extract of basil, group-3: received 400 mg/kg of aqueous extract of irradiated basil, group4: received 10 mg/kg of sodium arsenate solution, group-5: received 10 mg/kg of sodium arsenate solution and 400mg/kg of aqueous extract of basil, and group-6: received 10 mg/kg of sodium arsenate solution and 400mg/ kg of aqueous extract of irradiated basil. At the end of the experiment (5 weeks), the rats were sacrificed, blood and brain tissue samples were subjected to estimate of the following: CBC, inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-a, and IL6), immunoglobulin markers (IgA, IgG, IgM), and the levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant in brain tissue (MDA, CAT, SOD, and GSH). The results showed a rise in the antioxidant of basil after the irradiation process. The arsenic caused a significant decreased in levels of HB, RBC, LYM, NEU and PLT and increased levels of WBC and reticulocyte count as compared to the control group. Also, the rats exposed to arsenic showed a significant increase in inflammatory markers in serum, and oxidative stress in brain accompanied with significant decreased in immunoglobulin markers in serum and antioxidant in the brain. In contrast, the administration of raw basil or irradiated basil extract with arsenic was a helpful factor in alleviation of these side effects. In conclusion, our findings showed that the irradiation process enhanced antioxidants in basil plants which attenuated arsenic toxicity.