Radioprotective Potential of an Herbal Extract of Tinospora cordifolia

Abstract

A preparation of Tinospora cordifolia (RTc) administered i.p. (200 mg/kg b.w.) to strain "A" male mice 1 h before whole body gamma-irradiation was evaluated for its radioprotective efficacy in terms of whole body survival, spleen colony forming units (CFU), hematological parameters, cell cycle progression, and micronuclei induction. Preirradiation treatment with RTc rendered 76.3% survival (30 days), compared to 100% mortality in irradiated control and prevented radiation induced weight loss. On 10th postirradiation day, the endogenous CFU counts in spleen were decreased with increasing radiation doses 12.0 (5 Gy), 2.16 (7.5 Gy) and 0.33 (10 Gy) but pre-irradiation administration of 200 mg/kg b.w. of RTc increased CFU counts to 31.16, 21.83 and 3.00 respectively. Pre-irradiation RTc treatment could restore total lymphocyte counts (TLC) by the 15th day to normal. It also increased the S-phase cell population that was reduced following 2 Gy irradiation in a time dependent manner. 2 Gy irradiation-induced micronuclei were also decreased by a pre-irradiation administration of RTc from 2.9 to 0.52%. Because the radioprotective manifestation of RTc observed in several systems in experimental animals can be exploited for human applications.

Radioprotective properties of eckol against ionizing radiation in mice

“…Each mouse was placed individually in a close-fitting Perspex box (3 · 3 · 11 cm) and exposed to WBI with a 60 Co source irradiator (Theratron-780 Teletherapy Unit, Applied Radiological Science Institute, Cheju National University). Briefly, mice placed in the box were exposed to WBI with a dose rate of 1.5 Gy/min and source-surface distance of 150 cm, as previously reported [9,10].…”

Protective Effect of Kolaviron, a Biflavonoid from Garcinia kola Seeds, in Brain of Wistar Albino Rats Exposed to Gamma-Radiation

“…A number of radioprotective compounds that have been identified from medicinal plants are known to elicit strong antioxidant potentials, these include; Phyllantus amaurus, Tinospora cordifolia, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Aaegle marmelos, Vernonia amygdalina, Amarathus paniculatus, etc. [8][9][10][11][12] In view of the above, it is pertinent to look inwards to other medicinal plants that can protect against radiation.…”

Radiation Countermeasures: Current Status

“…Tinospora cordifolia, Emblica officinalis, Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Piper longum, Mentha piperita, Aegle marmelos and Zingiber officinalis extracts also have been evaluated in different biological systems or animal models. They can be used as promising radioprotector either in their crude extract form or in the form of certain formulations 41,42 but further studies are necessary.…”