The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Ipomoea carnea flower methanolic extract (ICME) as a natural gastroprotective therapy against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, particularly in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). The study focused on the Nrf2/HO−1 signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa from oxidative stress and inflammation. Male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups, the control group received distilled water orally for one week, while other groups were treated with ethanol to induce stomach ulcers, IR exposure, omeprazole, and different doses of ICME in combination with ethanol and/or IR. The study conducted comprehensive analyses, including LC-HRESI-MS/MS, to characterize the phenolic contents of ICME. Additionally, the Nrf2/HO−1 pathway, oxidative stress parameters, gastric pH, and histopathological changes were examined. The results showed that rats treated with IR and/or ethanol exhibited histopathological alterations, increased lipid peroxidation, decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced expression levels of Nrf2 and HO−1. However, pretreatment with ICME significantly improved these parameters. Phytochemical analysis identified 39 compounds in ICME, with flavonoids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and fatty acids as the predominant compounds. Virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that ICME may protect against gastric ulceration by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of ICME as a natural gastroprotective therapy for preventing gastric ulcers. These findings contribute to the development of novel interventions for gastrointestinal disorders using natural plant extracts particularly in individuals with a history of radiation exposure.

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the anti-inflammatory activity between Etoricoxib (ETO) and Matcha green tea (MG) in the context of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ionizing gamma radiation (IR) in female rats. Furthermore, the potential impact of whole body IR exposure on the intestinal system and serum estradiol levels was investigated. Additionally, it was acknowledged that the ETO and MG treatments might have exerted favorable effects on the intestinal and hormonal responses. Six groups of rats were assigned to different treatments: control, ETO, MG, irradiation (IRR), ETO + IRR, and MG + IRR. The evaluation included measuring the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ETO and MG, as well as assessing their antioxidant activity, radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity. Kidney function was assessed through serum creatinine and urea levels. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and catalase, were measured to evaluate the antioxidant effects of ETO and MG. The anti-inflammatory potential of the treatments was evaluated by measuring STAT-3 and interleukins (IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17) using an ELISA assay. Prostaglandin E2 receptor (PGE-2) mRNA expression, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry for NF-κB inhibitors were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms in kidney tissue homogenates. Histopathological changes and DNA fragmentation in the intestinal tissues were determined, and the characterization of Matcha green tea was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This allowed for the identification and quantification of various compounds present in Matcha green tea. Furthermore, the study assessed the effect of IR and treatments on estrogen levels in female rats. Data showed that both ETO and MG had the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of AKI induced by IR. Notably, MG exhibited greater efficacy in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation associated with renal injury. These findings revealed and compared the effects of ETO and MG in alleviating AKI caused by IR. MG demonstrated greater anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. These results contribute to the growing evidence supporting the use of MG in managing IR-induced renal complications. Future studies should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and optimizing the application of MG in clinical settings.

Fasting has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders, offering protection against insults such as ionizing radiation (IR), which can cause irreversible brain damage. Intermittent fasting (IF), including alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF), is being explored for its neuroprotective effects with potential involvement of key signaling pathways such as IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups: normal feeding (NF, ad libitum feeding), ADF, TRF (6-h feeding window), NF plus radiation (NF-irradiated, 20-Gy cranial exposure), ADF plus radiation (ADF-irradiated), and TRF plus radiation (TRF-irradiated). Oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, liver and kidney function parameters, and gene/protein expression levels (IRS1, AKT1, PI3K, GFAP, 8-OHdG, BDNF, TrkB) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR, complemented by histopathological analysis. IR significantly impaired antioxidant defenses (GSH, GST, CAT), suppressed IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB signaling, and elevated oxidative damage markers (MDA, ROS, 8-OHdG), inflammation (GFAP), and markers of organ dysfunction (ALT, AST, GGT, urea, creatinine). Both IF regimens mitigated these effects; however, TRF demonstrated greater efficacy than ADF. TRF more effectively reduced oxidative stress, improved antioxidant enzyme activity, and more robustly restored metabolic and neurotrophic signaling pathways. Both ADF and TRF provided neuroprotection against radiation-induced brain injury, but TRF exhibited superior outcomes in reducing oxidative stress and preserving neuronal integrity. These findings highlight TRF as a potentially more effective dietary strategy for mitigating radiation-induced neurotoxicity, with possible contributions from the modulation of IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and BDNF/TrkB pathways.

Holoptelea integrifolia, also known as the Indian Elm Tree, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for its medicinal properties.