title: Pycnogenol protects against Ionizing radiation as shown in the intestinal mucosa of rats exposed to X-rays.
abstract: X-rays and gamma radiation delivered to the abdominal region for cancer treatment encompasses severe damage to the intestinal mucosa, which significantly impairs a patient's quality of life. To a great extent the deleterious effects of x-radiation originate from radiolysis-induced reactive oxygen species. The well-researched powerful antioxidant Pycnogenol was administered orally to rats prior to x-irradiation with 15 Gy. Histological sections of the intestines showed a dramatically better condition of the mucosal layers compared with the irradiated control animals administered water without Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol treatment significantly preserved the height and number of villi as well as the glandular layer and a diminished number of congested vases were present. No intestinal alterations were seen in control animals receiving Pycnogenol in the absence of radiation. It is concluded that Pycnogenol provides significant protection from ionizing radiation damage.
authors.affiliation: Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba/UNICAMP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. flaviamaria@fop.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Flávia Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: de Moraes Ramos
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schönlau
authors.forename: Pedro Duarte
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.forename: Flávio Ricardo
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.forename: Frab Norberto
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Bóscolo
authors.forename: Solange Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; C024070:pycnogenols