Ganesh Chandra Jagetia

The evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Triphala (an ayurvedic rejuvenating drug) in the mice exposed to γ-radiation

The effect of 0, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 20, 25, 40, 50 and 80 mg/kg b. wt. of aqueous extract of triphala (an Ayurvedic herbal medicine) administrered intraperitoneally was studied on the radiation-induced mortality in mice exposed to 10 Gy of gamma-radiation. Treatment of mice with different doses of triphala consecutively for five days before irradiation delayed the onset of mortality and reduced the symptoms of radiation sickness when compared with the non-drug treated irradiated controls. The highest protection against GI (gastrointestinal) death was observed for 12.5 mg/kg triphala, where a highest number of survivors were reported up to 10 days post-irradiation. While 10 mg/kg triphala i.p. provided the best protection as evidenced by the highest number of survivors after 30 days post-irradiation in this group when compared with the other doses of triphala. Toxicity study showed that triphala was non-toxic up to a dose of 240 mg/kg, where no drug-induced mortality was observed. The LD50 dose i.p. of triphala was found to be 280 mg/kg b. wt. Our study demonstrates the ability of triphala as a good radioprotective agent and the optimum protective dose of triphala was 1/28 of its LD50 dose.

Radioprotective Potential of Plants and Herbs against the Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiations produce deleterious effects in the living organisms and the rapid technological advancement has increased human exposure to ionizing radiations enormously. There is a need to protect humans against such effects of ionizing radiation. Attempts to protect against the deleterious effects of ionizing radiations by pharmacological intervention were made as early as 1949 and efforts are continued to search radioprotectors, which may be of great help for human application. This review mainly dwells on the radioprotective potential of plant and herbal extracts. The results obtained from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that several botanicals such as Gingko biloba, Centella asiatica, Hippophae rhamnoides, Ocimum sanctum, Panax ginseng, Podophyllum hexandrum, Amaranthus paniculatus, Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus amarus, Piper longum, Tinospora cordifoila, Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita, Syzygium cumini, Zingiber officinale, Ageratum conyzoides, Aegle marmelos and Aphanamixis polystachya protect against radiation-induced lethality, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. The fractionation-guided evaluation may help to develop new radioprotectors of desired activities.

Influence of Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale Rosc) on Survival, Glutathione and Lipid Peroxidation in Mice after Whole-Body Exposure to Gamma Radiation

Abstract Jagetia, G. C., Baliga, M. S., Venkatesh, P. and Ulloor, J. N. Influence of Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale Rosc) on Survival, Glutathione and Lipid Peroxidation in Mice after Whole-Body Exposure to Gamma Radiation. Radiat. Res. 160, 584–592 (2003). The radioprotective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger rhizome, Zingiber officinale (ZOE), was studied. Mice were given 10 mg/kg ZOE intraperitoneally once daily for five consecutive days before exposure to 6–12 Gy of γ radiation and were monitored daily up to 30 days postirradiation for the development of symptoms of radiation sickness and mortality. Pretreatment of mice with ZOE reduced the severity of radiation sickness and the mortality at all doses. The ZOE treatment protected mice from GI syndrome as well as bone marrow syndrome. The dose reduction factor for ZOE was found to be 1.15. The optimum protective dose of 10 mg/kg ZOE was 150 of the LD50 (500 mg/kg). Irradiation of the animals resulted in a dose-dependent elevation in the lipid peroxidation and depletion of GSH on day 31 postirradiation; both effects were lessened by pretreatment with ZOE. ZOE also had a dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

The grapefruit flavanone naringin protects against the radiation-induced genomic instability in the mice bone marrow: a micronucleus study

The effect of various doses, viz. 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg body weight of naringin (NIN) (a citrus flavanone) was studied on the alteration in the radiation-induced micronucleated polychromatic (MPCE) and normochromatic (MNCE) erythrocytes in mouse bone marrow exposed to 2 Gy of 60Co gamma-radiation. The treatment of mice with various doses of NIN before exposure to 2 Gy resulted in a significant decline in the frequency of MPCE when compared to the non-drug-treated irradiated control. However, the greatest reduction in MPCE was observed for 2mg/kg body weight NIN, accompanied by a highest PCE/NCE ratio when compared with the non-drug-treated irradiated control. Therefore, further studies were carried out using this dose of NIN, where the animals were administered with 2mg/kg body weight of NIN before exposure to 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Gy of gamma-radiation. The frequency of MPCE and MNCE increased in a dose-dependent manner in both the non-drug-treated irradiated control and NIN-pretreated irradiated groups up to a dose of 2 Gy, while a further increase in the irradiation dose resulted in a significant decline in MPCE and MNCE frequencies in both groups. Pretreatment of mice with 2mg/kg body weight of NIN resulted in a significant decline in the frequencies of MPCE and MNCE. NIN treatment not only reduced the frequency of MPCE with one micronucleus, but also of MPCE with multiple micronuclei (MN), indicating its ability to reduce complex chromosome aberrations. Conversely, the PCE/NCE ratio declined in a dose-dependent manner in both groups. The treatment of mice with NIN before exposure to different doses of gamma-radiation resulted in the inhibition in this decline in the PCE/NCE ratio. Our study demonstrates that NIN is able to protect mouse bone marrow cells against the radiation-induced DNA damage and decline in the cell proliferation as observed by a reduction in the micronucleus frequency and an increase in PCE/NCE ratio, respectively, in the NIN-pretreated irradiated group.

Alteration in the glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation by ascorbic acid in the skin of mice exposed to fractionated γ radiation

BACKGROUND In spite of the immense therapeutic gains produced by the fractionated irradiation (IR) regimen, radiation burden on the skin increases significantly. Protection of skin might enable use of higher radiation doses for better therapeutic gains. Ascorbic acid (AA), an essential ingredient of the human diet, is known to be a free radical scavenger and radioprotective agent. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid on the radiation-induced changes in the status of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPx) in the skin of mice exposed to 10, 16 and 20 Gy of fractionated gamma radiation. METHODS One group of the animals was administered daily with double distilled water (DDW), while the other group received 250 mg/kg b. wt. of ascorbic acid once daily, consecutively for 5, 8 or 10 days, before hemibody (below rib cage) exposure to 2 Gy/day of gamma-rays. Skin biopsies from both the groups were collected for the biochemical estimations. RESULTS The irradiation of animals resulted in a dose-dependent decline in the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione contents. Ascorbic acid pretreatment resulted in a significant increase in the activities of both the enzymes and glutathione in the irradiated mouse skin. Normal concentrations of glutathione could not be restored even by day 6 post-irradiation. Conversely, lipid peroxidation increased in a dose-dependent manner in both the groups reaching a peak concentration by 3 h post-irradiation, while the ascorbic acid pretreatment inhibited the radiation-induced increase in lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSIONS The ascorbic acid treatment arrested the decline in the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, glutathione contents and inhibited the radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in the skin of mice exposed to different doses of fractionated gamma radiation.

Evaluation of the antineoplastic activity of guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) in cultured HeLa cells

Exposure of HeLa cells to 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml of guduchi extracts (methanol, aqueous and methylene chloride) resulted in a dose-dependent but significant increase in cell killing, when compared to non-drug-treated controls. The effects of methanol and aqueous extracts were almost identical. However, methylene chloride extract enhanced the cell killing effect by 2.8- and 6.8-fold when compared either to methanol or aqueous extract at 50 and 100 microg/ml, respectively. Conversely, the frequency of micronuclei increased in a concentration-dependent manner in guduchi-treated groups and this increase in the frequency of micronuclei was significantly higher than the non-drug-treated control cultures and also with respect to 5 microg/ml guduchi extract-treated cultures, at the rest of the concentrations evaluated. Furthermore, the micronuclei formation was higher in the methylene chloride extract-treated group than in the other two groups. The dose response relationship for all three extracts evaluated was linear quadratic. The effect of guduchi extracts was comparable or better than doxorubicin treatment. The micronuclei induction was correlated with the surviving fraction of cells and the correlation between cell survival and micronuclei induction was found to be linear quadratic. Our results demonstrate that guduchi killed the cells very effectively in vitro and deserves attention as an antineoplastic agent.

Evaluation of micronuclei frequency in the cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of cancer patients before and after radiation treatment

The frequency of micronucleated binucleate lymphocyte (MNBNC) was determined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients suffering from various types of cancer before the onset of radiation treatment, middle (mid-) of the treatment and after completion of the treatment (post-treatment). The frequency of micronuclei increased significantly in the pretreatment sample of cancer patients when compared with the normal untreated healthy volunteers. During the middle of the radiotherapy an approximate two or > two-fold increase was observed in the micronuclei frequency in most of the patients when compared with the concurrent pretreatment samples. Immediately after the completion of treatment, the frequency of micronuclei further increased, and this increase was significantly higher than that of pretreatment and mid-treatment samples. Out of 27 patients analyzed, only nine patients did not have any history of smoking, tobacco chewing or alcohol consumption, while the remaining 18 patients had a history of either smoking, tobacco chewing or alcohol consumption or combination of two or all habits at the time of blood collection.

Syzygium cumini (Jamun) reduces the radiation-induced DNA damage in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes: a preliminary study.

The effects of various concentrations (0.0, 1.56, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml) of the leaf extract of Syzygium cumini Linn. or Eugenia cumini (SC; black plum, Jamun, family Myrtaceae) was studied on the alteration in the radiation-induced micronuclei formation in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Treatment of lymphocytes to various concentrations of SC resulted in a dose dependent increase in the micronuclei-induction, especially after 25-100 microg/ml extract. The exposure of human lymphocytes to various concentrations of SC extract before 3 Gy gamma-irradiation resulted in a significant decline in the micronuclei-induction at all the drug doses when compared with the non-drug treated irradiated cultures. A nadir in MNBNC frequency was observed for 12.5 microg/ml drug concentration, where the MNBNC frequency was approximately fourfold lower than that of the non-drug treated irradiated cultures. Therefore, this dose may be considered as an optimum dose for radiation protection. Our study demonstrates that the leaf extract of S. cumini, a plant traditionally used to treat diabetic disorders protects against the radiation-induced DNA damage.

Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of bael leaf (Aegle marmelos) extract in mice

Purpose: To investigate the radioprotective activity of a leaf extract of bael leaf (Aegle marmelos) (AME) in mice exposed to different doses of γ‐radiation. Materials and methods: The acute toxicity of AME was evaluated in Swiss albino male mice administered various intraperitoneal single doses of AME. For radioprotection studies, mice were administered different doses, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 40 mg kg−1, of AME or sterile physiological saline intraperitoneally once daily consecutively for 5 days before exposure to 10 Gy 60Co γ‐radiation or five doses of 15 mg kg−1 AME before exposure to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 Gy. The animals were monitored for symptoms of radiation sickness and mortality up to 30 days post‐irradiation. Glutathione and lipid peroxidation were estimated in the surviving animals of both groups on day 31 post‐irradiation. Results: AME was non‐toxic up to a single dose of 1750 mg kg−1. The optimum radioprotective dose was five consecutive doses of 15 mg kg−1 AME, where the highest survival to 10 Gy radiation was observed. The irradiation caused a dose‐dependent decline in survival, while treatment of mice with AME enhanced survival. The dose reduction factor was 1.15. Irradiation caused a dose‐dependent decline in the level of glutathione accompanied by an elevation in lipid peroxidation. AME pretreatment arrested glutathione decline and lipid peroxidation significantly. Conclusion: AME treatment reduced the symptoms of radiation‐induced sickness and increased survival. The radioprotective action might be due to free‐radical scavenging and arrest of lipid peroxidation accompanied by an elevation in glutathione.

Influence of the leaf extract of Mentha arvensis Linn. (mint) on the survival of mice exposed to different doses of gamma radiation.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the radioprotective effect of Mentha arvensis (mint) on the survival of mice exposed to various doses of whole-body gamma radiation. Material and Methods: The radioprotective effect of various doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight) of chloroform extract of mint (Mentha arvensis Linn.) was studied in mice exposed to 10 Gy gamma radiation. Results: The 10 mg/kg of mint extract was found to afford best protection as evidenced by the highest number of survivors in this group at 30 days post-irradiation, and further experiments were carried out using this dose of mint extract. The mice treated with 10 mg/kg body weight mint extract or oil were exposed to 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Gy of gamma radiation and observed for the induction of radiation-sickness and mortality up to 30 days post-irradiation. The mint extract pretreatment was found to reduce the severity of symptoms of radiation sickness and mortality at all exposure doses and a significant increase in the animal survival was observed when compared with the oil + irradiation group. All of the animals that were treated with 10 mg/kg mint extract and then exposed to 7 Gy irradiation were protected against the radiation-induced mortality when compared with the concurrent oil + irradiation group, in which 20% animals died by 30 days post-irradiation. The mint extract treatment protected the mice against the gastrointestinal death as well as bone marrow deaths. The DRF was found to be 1.2. The drug was non-toxic up to a dose of 1 000 mg/kg body weight, the highest drug that could be tested for acute toxicity. Conclusion: From our study it is clear that mint extract provides protection against the radiation-induced sickness and mortality and the optimum protective dose of 10 mg/kg is safe from the point of drug-induced toxicity.Hintergrund: Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den radioprotektiven Effekt von Mentha arvensis (Minze) auf das Überleben von Mäusen nach unterschiedlichen Dosen einer Ganzkörperbestrahlung zu untersuchen. Material und Methoden: Der radioprotektive Effekt verschiedener Dosen (0, 2,5, 5, 10, 20, 40 und 80 mg/kg Körpergewicht) eines Chloroformextraktes der Minze (Mentha arvensis Linn.) wurde bei Mäusen nach Exposition mit 10 Gy Gammabestrahlung untersucht. Ergebnisse: Eine Konzentration von 10 mg/kg des Minzeextraktes zeigte die beste Radioprotektion, da in dieser Gruppe die höchste Anzahl von Überlebenden 30 Tage nach Bestrahlung gefunden wurde. Die weiteren Experimente wurden daher mit dieser Dosis des Minzeextraktes durchgeführt. Die Mäuse wurden mit einer Konzentration von 10 mg/kg Körpergewicht Minzeextrakt oder mit Öl behandelt und einer Gammabestrahlung mit einer Dosis mit 6, 7, 8, 9 und 10 Gy ausgesetzt und anschließend bezüglich der Induktion von radiogenem Erbrechen und Mortalität bis 30 Tage nach Bestrahlung beobachtet. Die Minzeextraktvorbehandlung konnte die Schwere des radiotherapieinduzierten Erbrechens und die Mortalität bei allen Bestrahlungsdosen reduzieren. Es wurde eine signifikante Verbesserung des Überlebens im Vergleich zu den allein mit Ö vorbehandelten Mäusen beobachtet. Alle Tiere, die mit 10 mg/kg Minzeextrakt vorbehandelt wurden und anschließend einer 7-Gy-Bestrahlung ausgesetzt wurden, überlebten, während in der Gruppe der mit Öl vorbehandelten Tieren 20% nach 30 Tagen gestorben waren. Die Minzeextraktbehandlung schützte die Mäuse gegen den Tod sowohl durch gastrointestinale als auch Knochenmarktoxizität. Die DRF betrug 1,2. Die Substanz war bis zu einer Dosis von 1 000 mg/kg Körpergewicht nicht toxisch. Schlussfolgerung: Nach den Studienergebnissen ist klar, dass Minzeextrakt eine Protektion gegen radiotherapieinduziertes Erbrechen und die Mortalität mit einer optimalen protektiven Dosis von 10 mg/kg Körpergewicht ermöglicht und in dieser Dosis auch ohne Toxizität eingesetzt werden kann.