Potent radioprotective effect of herbal immunomodulator drug (IMOD) on mouse bone marrow erythrocytes as assayed with the micronucleus test

Abstract

Background: Although numerous natural or synthe c drugs have been tested for their radioprotec ve capacity, yet no suitable drug has been introduced for rou ne clinical use. In this study the radioprotec ve effect of "a new herbal immunomodulator" commercially known as IMOD, specifically made to decrease the side effects of HIV virus, was inves gated on mouse bone marrow cells. Materials and Methods: Female NMRI mice (in a group of five) were exposed to 2 Gy gamma radia on following three days of intravenously injec on (IV) of IMOD at various doses. Mice were sacrificed 48 and 72 h a1er irradia on. Bone marrow was flushed and slides for bone marrow smears were prepared according to standard method. A1er staining slides in May Grunwald and Giemsa, polychroma c erythrocytes (PCE) and normochroma c erythrocytes (NCE) were scored for presence of micronucleus (MN). Results: The results showed that gamma irradia on increased the frequency of micronuclei drama cally and excreted cytotoxic effect of cell prolifera on. Injec on of various doses of IMOD before irradia on however, led to a considerable reduc on in the frequency of micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes as well as cellular toxicity. Conclusion: Results indicated radioprotec ve capability of IMOD with a dose reduc on factor (DRF) of about 2.3 at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. The considerably high DRF might be indica ve that IMOD besides being an immunomodulator might also posses' an oxidant property.Keywords: R adioprotection, im m unom odulator, I M OD, m ouse bone marrow, micronucleus assay.

Radiation mitigating activities of Psidium guajava L. against whole-body X-ray-induced damages in albino Wistar rat model

“…In the earlier study, Nair et al (2013) reported that mice exposed to ionizing radiation (2 Gy) displayed a significant increase in micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes when compared to normal control group. Similar observations were reported by Boroujeni et al where mice exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation displayed significant rise in micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes at 24 and 48 h after radiation exposure (Boroujeni et al 2016). In the present study, similar findings were observed, as animals exposed to sublethal dose of X-rays (4 Gy) displayed significant increase (P ≤ 0.001) in the micronucleus in polychromatic erythrocytes (Fig.…”

Radioprotective profile of Urtica dioica L. seed extract on oxidative DNA-damage in liver tissue and whole blood of radiation-administered rats

“…Although UD seed extract (UDSE) has been shown to exert antioxidant effects in experimental studies, there has been no adequate study of whether it has a protective role against DNA damage due to irradiation. In a study by Shakeri-Boroujeni et al (2016), a combination was tested as a radioprotective candidate in mice administered 2 Gy of radiation. In this herbal combination, UD was 1 among 3 other ingredients, and this combination was found to be effective in ameliorating the effects of ionizing radiation.…”

Pharmacological Modulation of Radiation Damage. Does It Exist a Chance for Other Substances than Hematopoietic Growth Factors and Cytokines?

“…Stimulatory effects in both the immune tissues in irradiated mice have been reported following the administration of the extract from Vernonia cinerea [ 103 ]. Recently, a potent radioprotective effect of a herbal drug prepared from Rosa canina , Urtica dioica , and Tanacetum vulgare , has been observed [ 104 ].…”