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The present study aims at determining the ability of 60% ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber montanum (J. König) A. Dietr. to protect bone marrow cells in vivo from radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations. Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus, 2n = 42) were used to carry out investigations on the radioprotective properties of Z. montanum. Acute toxicity of the extract was determined, and a suitable injectable dose was selected for intra-peritoneal administration. The LD(50) of the extract calculated for 72 h was 2.9 g/kg, and the calculated LD(10) dose was 1.7 g/kg. The calculated maximum tolerated dose of the rhizome extract was 1.3 g/kg. Rats were divided into 12 groups (with or without the administration of extract) and exposed to different radiation doses from 1 to 5 Gy. Whole-body irradiation of rats showed a significant dose-dependent increase in different types of chromosomal aberrations. The most common chromosomal aberrations were breaks, fragments, gaps, rings, endoreduplications and dicentric chromosomes. Ethanol extract of rhizome at a dose of 0.5 g/kg did not show any significant increase in chromosomal aberrations in unirradiated animals as compared to that of the control group. Intra-peritoneal administration of the extract at a dose of 0.5 g/kg considerably reduced the frequency of the aberrations stated above in irradiated animals with DMF value of 1.36 at 1 to 5 Gy dose range of gamma radiation. The incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes due to the radiation exposure was considerably reduced in extract-treated groups of animals with DMFs 1.34 and 1.17, respectively, as compared to that of the extract-untreated groups. Our results suggest that rhizome extract of Z. montanum may have a potential in protecting normal hematopoietic cells from radiation-induced damage.

Novel 3-Alkanoyl/Aroyl/Heteroaroyl-2H-chromene-2-thiones: Synthesis and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activities. -A combinatorial library of title chromenethiones is synthesized by condensation of β-oxodithioesters (I) with aromatic aldehydes (II) under solvent-free conditions. The newly prepared compounds are efficient DPPH free radical scavengers. Selected compounds, cf. (IIIa), (IIIf), (IIIg), and (IIIh), are found as protectors of curcumin from the attack of sulfur-free radical generated by radiolysis of glutathione. -(SINGH*, O. M.; DEVI, N. S.; THOKCHOM, D. S.; SHARMA, G. J.; Eur.

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