Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) in the Presence of Mentha-Pulegium Essential Oil: A Study on the Radioprotective Effect

Abstract

Background:The Mentha-Pulegium essential oil (MP-EO) contains different antioxidant compounds and reduces the indirect effects of dispersed ionizing radiation on biological systems.Objective: The current study aimed to assess a possible radio-protective effect of MP-EO on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Material and Methods:In this experimental study, MP-EO was firstly prepared and PBMCs were then irradiated in various groups with doses of 25 and 200 cGy of X-rays in the presence of IC10 of MP-EO. After incubation times of 48h and 72h, the survival, apoptosis, and necrosis percentages of PBMCs were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analyses; the radio-protective effect of MP-EO was examined.Results: In the presence of 80 µg/ml (IC10) MP-EO, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs by radiation doses of 25 and 200 cGy was significantly increased after 48h of incubation compared with the control. At 72h of incubation, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs was significantly increased only at 25 cGy. The percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of PBMCs was significantly reduced in the presence of the MP-EO at both incubation times and radiation doses; therefore, the highest reduction was at 200 cGy and 48h incubation compared to the control. Conclusion:MP-EO as a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective compound can exhibit a favorable in-vitro radio-protective effect by increasing the survival and decreasing the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of irradiated PBMCs.

Review of Phyto-Medical Extracts’ and Compounds’ Anti-Radiation Properties

“…At irradiation dosages of 25 and 200 cGy, experiments showed a considerable decrease in necrosis and apoptosis along with a significant increase in survival rates. Furthermore, MP-EO, administered at both doses, reduced the percentage of PBMCs exhibiting necrosis, indicating a potential radioprotective benefit [126].…”

Radioprotective effect of nanoniosome loaded by Mentha Pulegium essential oil on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to ionizing radiation

“…In radiation protection studies, to quantify the radioprotective effect of an agent, the well-known quantity of DRF is introduced, which is de ned at a radiation dose that results in 50% survival (D50) [32]. Since the radioprotective effect of MPEO-loaded nanoniosomes was examined at two radiation doses of 25 and 200cGy, the quantity of survival enhancement factor (SEF) [33] was de ned which is the ratio of cell survival in the presence and absence of radioprotector in each radiation dose [34]. According to this de nition, the maximum SEF value was reported to be 1.29, related to the MPEO-N treatment group, at a dose of 200 cGy in 72 h of incubation.…”