title: Role of Rubia cordifolia Linn. in radiation protection.
abstract: The radioprotective potential of alcoholic extract of root of R. cordifolia, was studied by survival, hemopoietic cell protection and micronucleus assay. The LD50 value for the alcoholic root extract was found to be 1200 mg/kg body weight at 72 hr post irradiation. A significant radiation protection (67%) as assessed by increased animal survival was observed when R. cordifolia (RC) extract was administered intraperitoneally, 90 min. before the radiation exposure. Besides, the extract also inhibited radiation induced lipid peroxidation measured by the inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). The RC extract at a selected dose of 460 mg/kg body weight was effective in protecting the radiation induced suppression of endogenous colony forming units in spleen. A significant inhibition of radiation (2 Gy) induced micronuclei formation was observed when RC extract was administered 90 min prior to irradiation. Thus, it appears that the alcoholic root extract of R. cordifolia provides significant protection against radiation induced lipid peroxidation, hemopoietic injury and genotoxicity. The mechanism of action of RC extract appears to be through its anti-oxidant, metal chelation and anti-inflammatory property.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India. yaminiok@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yamini Bhusan
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Ajita Vikram
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045470:Rubia / Q000378:metabolism*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism