Radioprotective effects of Dragon's blood and its extract against gamma irradiation in mouse bone marrow cells

Purpose: The radioprotective effects of Dragon's blood ( DB) and its extracts (DBE) were investigated using the chromosomal aberrant test, micronucleus and oxidative stress assay for anti-clastogenic and anti-oxidative activity. Materials and methods: Adult BALB/C mice were exposed to the whole body irradiation with 4 Gy Co-60 gamma rays. DB and DBE were administered orally once a day from 5 days prior to irradiation treatment to 1 day after irradiation. The mice were sacrificed on 24 h after irradiation. The cells of bone marrow were measured by counting different types of chromosomal aberrations and the frequency of micronuclei. Oxidative stress response was carried out by analysis of serum from blood. Results: DB and DBE significantly decreased the number of bone marrow cells with chromosome aberrations after irradiation with respect to irradiated alone group. The administration of DB and DBE also significantly reduced the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes ( MPCE) and micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes ( MNCE). In addition, DB and DBE markedly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the level of antioxidant molecular. Malondialdehyde ( MDA) and nitric oxide ( NO) levels in serum were significantly reduced by DB and DBE treatment. Conclusions: Our data suggested that DB and DBE have potential radioprotective properties in mouse bone marrow after Co-60 gamma-ray exposure, which support their candidature as a potential radioprotective agent. (c) 2013 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Dragon's blood and its extracts attenuate radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice

Dragon's blood (DB) possesses great medicinal values due to the presence of several phenolic compounds. This study was designed to investigate the effects of DB and its extracts (DBEs) on oxidative stress in mice exposed to whole body Co-60-gamma irradiation (4 Gy). DB and DBEs were intragastrically administered to mice for 5 d prior to radiation. The antioxidant activities, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels in liver and spleen were measured using kits. Furthermore, DB and DBE effects were determined by organ indices and histology of liver and spleen. Our results indicated that the DB and DBE-treated groups showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in levels of MDA in liver and spleen compared with the irradiation-only group. Moreover, the activity of SOD, CAT and the level of GSH in liver and spleen tissue were enhanced significantly (P < 0.05) in the DB and DBE groups. DB and DBE also had a significant effect on the recovery of thymus indices. The histological observations of groups having treatment with DB and DBE indicated significant reduction in the radiation-induced damage to the liver and spleen, together with improvement in the morphology of the liver and spleen. These results suggest that DB and DBE treatment prevents radiation-induced oxidative stress injury and restores antioxidant status and histopathological changes in the liver and spleen, but there is need for further study to explore the precise molecular mechanism and strategy for optimal practical application of DB and DBE