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Table 1 Traditional herbal plants showing therapeutic activities relevant to radioprotection

From: Role of phytochemicals as potential radioprotectants

Sr. No

Biological source

Common name

Active compound

Radioprotective action

Dose

References

1

Adhatoda vasica (Acanthaceae)

Vasaka

Vesicine, vesicinone, betaine, vitamin C, b-carotene and vasakin

Irradiation showed significant protection in survival percentage and hematological parameters in mice. DRF 1.6

800 mg/kg p.o

Kumar et al. (2005)

2

Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae)

Bael

Skimmianine, luvangetin, psoralen, marmin, marmelide, aurapten, marmelosin, lupeol, aegelin, marmrsinin, eugenol, and coumarin

Provided protection against radiation-induced sickness and mortality in mice

15 mg/kg b.wt

Jagetia et al. (2004) and Jagetia and Venkatesh (2005)

3

Allium cepa Linn

(Alliaceae)

Bulb onion

Allyl propyl disulfide,31,8-cineole

Administration of the dried bulb effective against X-irradiation

20 mg/kg b.wt

Arora et al. (2005)

4

Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae)

Garlic

Allicin, flavonoids, phenol

Radioprotective efficacy of aged garlic extract (S-allyl cysteine, S-allylmercapto cysteine, allixin and selenium) possess significant antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties

1gm/kg b. wt./day p.o

Singh et al. (1995) and Gupta (1996)

5

Aloe arborescens (Liliaceae)

Indian aloe

Campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol

Extract protected mouse skin against soft x-irradiation by scavenging hydroxyl radicals and reducing alterations in enzyme activity

750 mg/kg p.o

Sato et al. (1990)

6

Asparagus racemosus

(Liliaceae)

Shatavari

9,10-dihydro-1,5

dimehtoxy-8-methyl-2,7-phenanthrenediol, steroidal saponins, polysaccharides

Antioxidant effects of crude extract and a purified aqueous fraction of Asparagus racemosus against membrane damage induced by the free radicals generated during gamma radiation were examined in rat liver mitochondria and was effective

10 mg/ml on rat liver mitochondria

Kamat et al. (2000) and Verma et al. (2014)

7

Centella asiatica (Apiaceae)

Brahmi

Titerpene, flavonoid, phenolic acid, sterols, acetylenes

Aqueous extract protects Sprague Dawley rats against the adverse effects of low-dose ionizing radiation (2 Gy). Administered orally, provides total body protection in mice against sublethal (8 Gy) 60 Co gamma radiation

100 mg/kg b. wt; i.p.; single dose; -1 h

Sharma and Sharma (2002)

8

Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae)

Haldi, Turmeric

Curcumin

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) has been reported to render radioprotective effect

100 mg/kg p.o

Choudhary et al. (1999)

9

Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae)

Amla

Tannins, alkaloids, quercetin, emblicanin A and B, and ellagotannin

EOE is effective in preventing gamma radiation- induced lipid peroxidation and protected mitochondrial SOD. It also prevents radiation-induced DNA strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner

100 mg/kg p.o

Bhattacharya et al. (2006) and Singh et al. (2005)

10

Ginkgo biloba (Cycadaceae)

Living Fossils

Ginkgetin and Ginkgolides (A & B)

An ethanol (30%) extract of the dried leaf is reported effective when tested on a culture exposed to clastogenic factors from plasma of human subjects exposed to irradiation and on rat cerebellar neuronal cell culture against hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis

100 µg/ml

Veerapur et al. (2009), Ni et al. (1996) and Emerit et al. (1995)

11

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Fabaceae)

Liquorice

Glycyrrhizin

70% methanolic extract protected rat microsomal membranes from gamma radiation-induced lipid peroxidation

100 µg/mL

Kovalenko et al. (2003)

12

Mentha arvensis (Lamiaceae)

Mint

Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, diterpenes, and monoterpenes

Pre-irradiation treatment with chloroform extract protected mice against gastrointestinal and bone marrow death (DMF: 1.2)

10 mg/kg i.p

Jagetia and Baliga (2002)

13

Mentha piperita

(Labiatae)

Peppermint

Menthol

Radioprotective activity on the vital radiosensitive organs like testis, gastrointestinal and hemopoetic system in mice

1 g/kg p.o

Samarth and Samarth (2009) and Samarth (2007)

14

Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae)

Drumstick

Vitamin C

Leaf extract significantly reduced the percent aberrant cells in metaphase chromosomes to normal range by day 7 post-irradiation in mice

150 mg/kg single dose, pretreatment i.p

Rao et al. (2001)

15

Murraya koenigii (Rutaceae)

Meethineem

Oxalic acid, glycosides, carbazole alkaloids, koenigin, resin,girinimbin, isomahanimbin, koenine, koenigine, koenidineandkoenimbine. Mahanimbicine, bicyclomahanimbicine, phebalosin, coumarine

The radioprotective effects of M. koenigii leaf extract were evaluated against 4 Gy γ-irradiation in the liver of mice. The leaf extract itself was effective for significantly increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) content and antioxidant enzyme levels in the liver as well as it reduced the radiation-induced decrease in lipid peroxidation, thus indicating the antioxidant properties of extract possibly contributing for radioprotection

100 mg/kg i.p

Iyer and Devi (2009)

16

Myristica fragrans

(Myristicaceae)

Nutmeg

Myristicin, lignanand eugenol, abinene (15–50%), α-pinene(10–22%)and β-pinene(7–18%),with myrcene (0.7–3%), 1,8-cineole (1.5–3.5%), myristicin (0.5–13.5%), limonene (2.7–4.1%), safrole (0.1–3.2%) andterpinen4-ol(0–11%)

Protects testes of mice by inhibiting γ-radiation induced TBARS and increased the level of GSH

500 µg/ml p.o

Checker et al. (2008)

17

Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae)

Tulsi

Orientin, Vicenin

Compounds orientin and vicenin significantly increased mouse survival when administered 30 min before lethal whole-body γ irradiation Vicenin provided slightly higher protection (DMF: 1.37), compared to orientin (DMF: 1.30) in a murine model system. Reduced the chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow of mice exposed to 2 Gy γ irradiation

50 μg/kg/i.p

Uma Devi et al. (1998) and Sudheer Kumar et al. (2003)

18

Panax ginseng (Araliaceae)

Ginseng

Ginsenosides, Polysaccharides

The water-soluble whole plant extract of ginseng provided the best protection against Co60 gamma radiation in C3H mice

300 mg/kg i.p

Lee et al. (2005)

19

Piper betle Linn

(Piperaceae)

Betel leaf

Chevibetol and allylpyrocatechol

Betel leaf has hydroxyls Superoxide radicals Scavenging property and also prevent radiation induced DNA strand breaks

50 µg/ml

Jagetia and Venkatesha (2006)

20

Piper longum Linn

(Piperaceae)

Indian Long Pepper

Monoterpenes (Z) p-ocimene, a-pinene and b-pinene, most common sesquiterpenes identified, E-caryophyllene and germacrene D, have the E, E-farnesyl-PP as fundamental precursor and only two were originated from E, Z-farnesyl-PP reactions (a-copaene and d-cadinene)

The ethanolic extract of fruits was found to protect mice against the radiation-induced decline in WBC, bone marrow cells a-esterase positive cells and GSH

400 mg/kg, i.p

Sunila et al. (2005)

21

Podophyllum hexandrum (Berberidaceae)

Indian Podophyllum

Epipodophyllotoin, podophyllotoxin, aryl tetrahydro naphthalene lignans

P. hexandrum has been shown to act in a multifaceted manner and provide protection to haematopoietic, gastrointestinal, reproductive and central nervous system (CNS)

115 mg/kg i.p

Sajikumar and Goel (2003)

22

Saccharum officinarum L

(Gramineae)

Sugarcane

Phenolics

Increasing the number of crypt/circumference effects and growth-promoting activity

42–55% fresh juice once on pBR322

Kadam et al. (2008)

23

Spinacia oleracea L

(Chenopodiaceae)

Spinach

Carotenoids, Ascorbic acid, Flavonoids and P-Coumaric acid

The radioprotective efficacy of spinach is against Gamma radiation-induced oxidative stress and also due to antioxidant constituents present in Spinach

1100 mg/kg p.o

Gaikwad (2010)

24

Syzygium cuminii (Linn.) Skeels

(Myrtaceae)

Jamun

Acetyl oleanolic acid, triterpenoids, ellagic acid, Jambolin

In vivo evaluation established its radioprotective activity where it was found to reduce radiation-induced sickness, gastrointestinal and bone marrow deaths. Treatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes with leaf extract before gamma radiation (3 Gy) significantly reduced micronuclei induction

80 µg/ml

Tilak et al. (2003)

25

Terminalia arjuna

(Combretaceae)

Arjuna

Baicalein

Terminaliaarjuna bark, the methanolic extract administered once on rat liver mitochondrial preparation showed the highest antioxidant and radioprotection activity

0.10% once on rat liver mitochondria

Tilak et al. (2003)

26

Terminalia chebula

(Combretaceae)

Black myrobalan

Ascorbate, gallic acid and ellagic acid

Aqueous extract of a natural herb, Terminaliachebula was tested for its ability to inhibit gamma-radiation induced lipid peroxidation and damage to superoxide dismutase enzyme in rat liver mitochondria which shows a significant radioprotection by its antioxidant property

25–200 mg/ml p.o

Naik et al. (2004)

27

Tinospora cordifolia

(Menispermaceae)

Guduchi

Cordifolioside-A, palmatine, tembetarine

A pure arabinogalactan polysaccharide, Genistein provides some protection against radiation-induced intestinal damage in mice. DMF: 1.16

5 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg p.o

Goel et al. (2004)

28

Vitis labrusca

(Vitaceae)

Black grape juice

Trans-resveratrol

Inhibiting loss of body weight via reverse mandibular changes that interfere with normal feeding, attenuating the severity of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) as well as improving white and red blood cell counts

Fed ad libitum p.o

Freitas et al. (2017) and Andrade et al. (2011)

29

Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae)

Ginger

Zingerone

Reduced the severity of radiation sickness and mortality. The Zingiberofficinale treatment protected mice from gastrointestinal syndrome as well as bone marrow syndrome. The dose reduction factor was found to be 1.15

10 mg/kg i.p.,

Jagetia et al. (2003)