http://www.lifesciencesite.com ) 4 2013;10( Life Science Journal 3403 Modulation of Radiation Injury by Physalis Peruviana Nadia N. Osman 1,2 , Madeha N. AL-seeni 1 , Mayson H. Alkhatib 1 and Hanaa A. Al-shreef 1 1 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, KSA 2 Food Irradiation Research Dep. National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt nmahmod@kau.edu.sa Abstract: Radiation therapy is considered to be one of the most popular and important therapeutic modalities for the cure of cancer. During radiotherapy, ionizing irradiation interacts with biological systems to produce free radicals, which attacks various cellular components. The present study clarifies the efficacy of cape gooseberries (Physalis peruviana) in reducing gamma- irradiation- induced oxidative damage to the liver, lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes in adult male rats. Rats were exposed to whole body gamma radiation (2 Gy /week up to total dose of 6 Gy) and fed on basal diet supplemented with 15% of Physalis powder (Ph p.), one week before irradiation and during the period of radiation exposure. Animals were randomly divided into four groups as following: Normal control, Ph p, irradiated and Ph p + irradiated. The results demonstrated that irradiation of rats induced a significant increase in lipid peroxides level measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and xanthine oxidase (XO) concomitant with a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione (GSH) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) content in liver tissues. In parallel, significant increases in serum enzymes aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma - glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) as well as serum bilirubin were recorded. While serum total protein (T.P) and albumin (Alb) were decreased. Furthermore, alteration in lipid profile manifested by a significant increase in triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and a significant decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), were observed. Physalis powder pretreatment has significantly improved the oxidant/antioxidant status, which was associated with reduced the severity of liver damage. It is concluded that Ph p has a protective effect against gamma-irradiation induced hepatotoxicity through antagonizing the free radicals generation beside enhancement of the antioxidant defense mechanisms. [Nadia N. Osman, Madeha N. AL-seeni, Mayson, H. Alkhatib and Hanaa W. Al-shreef. Modulation of Radiation Injury by Physalis Peruviana. Life Sci J 2013;10(4):3403-3410] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 508 Keywords: radiation, Physalis peruviana, liver, liver function tests, lipid profils, oxidative stress 1.Introduction The effective use of radiotherapy in cancer cure and palliation is compromised by the side- effects resulting from radiosensitivity of bordering normal tissues, which are invariably exposed to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation during treatment (Rahman and Parvin, 2014). Ionizing radiation inflicts its adverse effects through the generation of an abnormal increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels that unleash large-scale destruction or damage of various biomolecules (Moritake et al., 2003 and Yusuf et al., 2011).These free radicals react with body tissues and generate lipid peroxidation, DNA lesions and enzyme inactivation, thus leading to the alteration and impairment of function of all cellular components leading to apoptosis (Ciriolo, 2005). Protection of normal tissue and organs during radiotherapy is still a matter of special concern. Amelioration of the deleterious effects of ionizing radiations using synthetic compounds causes undesirable side effects. Therefore, intervention of plant extracts, herbal preparations and natural agents could be the most prudent strategy to develop nontoxic and the most effective drugs to protect the human beings against harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Recently, focus has shifted to test the radioprotective potential of plants and herbs (Jajetia, 2007). Berries have been shown to provide health benefits because of their high antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber (Zhao, 2007). Cape goose- berry (Physalis peruviana) is a fruit that belongs to the Solanaceae family has been grown in Egypt, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain (Ramadan and Mörsel, 2003; 2004). It has been used as a folk medicine with antiinflammatory, antitussive, antipyretic, diuretic, antidotal and antitumor effects in Taiwan (Lee et al., 2008). Plant extracts show antioxidant activity (Ramadan and Mörsel, 2009; Valdenegro et al., 2012; Ramadan, 2012; Puente et al., 2010; Ramadan and Mörsel, 2007), anti-inflammatory activity (Wu et al., 2006, Chang et al., 2008, Arun and Asha, 2007) and anti-