title: Syzygium cumini (Jamun) reduces the radiation-induced DNA damage in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes: a preliminary study.
abstract: The effects of various concentrations (0.0, 1.56, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml) of the leaf extract of Syzygium cumini Linn. or Eugenia cumini (SC; black plum, Jamun, family Myrtaceae) was studied on the alteration in the radiation-induced micronuclei formation in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Treatment of lymphocytes to various concentrations of SC resulted in a dose dependent increase in the micronuclei-induction, especially after 25-100 microg/ml extract. The exposure of human lymphocytes to various concentrations of SC extract before 3 Gy gamma-irradiation resulted in a significant decline in the micronuclei-induction at all the drug doses when compared with the non-drug treated irradiated cultures. A nadir in MNBNC frequency was observed for 12.5 microg/ml drug concentration, where the MNBNC frequency was approximately fourfold lower than that of the non-drug treated irradiated cultures. Therefore, this dose may be considered as an optimum dose for radiation protection. Our study demonstrates that the leaf extract of S. cumini, a plant traditionally used to treat diabetic disorders protects against the radiation-induced DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, 576 119, Karnataka, Manipal, India. gc.jagetia@kmc.manipal.edu
authors.forename: Ganesh Chandra
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Jagetia
authors.forename: Manjeshwar Shrinath
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Baliga
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D027822:Myrtaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents