Radiation therapy has been used in cancer treatment for many decades; although effective in killing tumor cells, ROS produced in radiotherapy threatens the surrounding normal cells’ integrity and survival. Recent studies have indicated that some commonly used medicinal plants may be good sources of potent but non-toxic radioprotectors. The pomegranate, Punica granatum L., an ancient, mystical, and highly distinctive fruit, is the predominant member of the Punicaceae family. It is used in several systems of medicine for a variety of ailments. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic extracts of pomegranate whole fruit (EPWF) and Synthetic Ellagic acid (EA) against Electron beam radiation (EBR) induced biochemical and hematological alterations in Swiss albino mice. The extract and synthetic compounds were assessed for their radical scavenging property by DPPH and FRAP assays. The animals were treated with 200mg/kg body wt. of pomegranate extract and Ellagic acid for 15 days before exposure to 6Gy of EBR. The hematological parameters were determined in the blood, and biochemical estimations were carried out in the serum of sacrificed animals. The plant extract and synthetic compound exhibited good radical scavenging and
reducing properties. The pretreated animals exhibited a protective effect on the hematological parameters. Radiation-induced depletion in the level of reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity was prevented significantly by EPWF and EA administration. Also, there was a significant reduction in the levels of membrane lipid peroxidation in the treated groups compared to irradiated control. The findings of our study indicate that the protective efficacy of pomegranate extract and synthetic ellagic acid on radiation-induced biochemical and hematological changes in mice may be due to its free radical scavenging and increased antioxidant levels.

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