Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from wireless devices, particularly mobile phones, is a potentially growing public health concern. In this study, the neuronal effects of EMR on primary cortical neurons (PCNs) from neonatal rat cerebral cortex and the protective role of hispolon (HIS) and its derivatives were investigated as a measure of cranial exposure during mobile phone use. PCNs were isolated and cultured from day-old neonatal rats, then exposed for 2 h to EMR emitted by a mobile phone operating at a frequency of 2100 MHz with 1.6 W/Kg specific absorption rate (SAR) in call-answered mode treated with HIS and its derivatives. The induction of apoptosis through modulation of pro and anti-apoptotic genes via mitochondrial pathway and the protection by the test compounds was assessed. Pyrazole derivatives decreased apoptosis by modulating the levels of pro and anti-apoptotic genes by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via mitochondrial damage, which was observed in the EMR exposed PCNs. The pyrazole compounds were found to have antioxidative and anti-apoptotic properties. Thus, the neuroprotective mechanisms of the pyrazole derivatives can be investigated further, which may make them appropriate as lead compounds in developing neuroprotective formulations.

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Hispolon, a polyphenolic yellow pigment isolated from Chinese mushrooms which was synthesized by researchers and its derivatives such as monomethyl ether, pyrazole and monomethyl ether pyrazole were evaluated for their chemical stability in cell culture medium, antioxidant effect in Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) radioprotection in spleen lymphocytes. The results indicate that pyrazole derivatives were more chemically stable in cell culture medium. Further, pretreatment with hispolon and its derivatives in CHO cells showed significant inhibition in the radiation induced Reactive oxygen species (ROS) by pyrazole derivative of hispolon. Similarly, the treatment in the splenic lymphocytes showed no significant expression of antioxidant genes such as γGCL and HO-1, and also no significant radioprotection in the markers like fragmentation of DNA, and pre G1 gated cells. This may be because of the primary nature of lymphocytes with limited life span. In MMP assay hispolon pyrazole and monomethyl ether showed a significant rise indicates that these compounds are protecting through inhibition of radiation induced mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, in line with the previous studies, the pyrazole derivatives of hispolon and hispolon monomethyl ether shows antioxidant and radioprotection.

The enormous advancement of technology in communication systems and vast growth in the utilization of mobile phones alarms the effects of over exposure to radiations emitted from mobile phones. This study investigated the effect of Hispolon (HIS), a biologically active polyphenol compound isolated from Inonotus hispidus and its derivates such as hispolon pyrazole (HP), hispolon mono methyl ether (HME), and hispolon monomethyl ether pyrazole (HMEP) against the deleterious effects of mobile phone radiation on primary cultured cortical neurons. Cortical neuronal cells were isolated form a day-old neonate rats, cultured, and treated with HIS and its derivatives while exposed to mobile phone (2100 MHz, 1.6 W/Kg SAR) on call answered mode for 2 hrs. Post exposure the cells were analysed for cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis using propidium iodide (PI) assay through flowcytometry, genotoxicity through DNA ladder assay, and gene expression analysis of p53, Bcl2, and Bax. The cytotoxicity analysis indicated that pyrazole derivatives were less toxic among the treated compounds. Pyrazole derivatives such as HP and HMEP significantly decrease radiation induced ROS levels in the cells, reduced MMP, apoptosis, and DNA damage effectively, while they didn’t alter gene expression of p53, Bcl2, and Bax. From the results, it can be concluded that the antioxidative and anti-apoptotic activity of the pyrazole derivatives might be attributed to the phenolic and diketo groups present in them. Hence the pyrazole derivatives can be further evaluated their pathway of neuroprotection which may gain importance as lead molecules in the development of neuroprotective formulations.