title: Evaluation of radioprotective effects of propolis and its flavonoid constituents: in vitro study on human white blood cells.
abstract: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the possible radioprotective effects of the natural substances WSDP, caffeic acid, chrysin and naringin on gamma-irradiated human white blood cells. The effectiveness of tested compounds was evaluated using the alkaline comet assay, the analysis of structural chromosome aberration and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The results obtained by the alkaline comet study indicate favourable toxicity profiles of propolis and its polyphenolic components, and confirmed the radioprotective abilities comparable to the chemical radioprotector AET. WSDP and its polyphenolic components were able to reduce the number of necrotic cells. None of tested compounds induced significant genotoxicity, but all of them offered a quite measurable protection against DNA damage. WSDP was found to be the most effective in diminishing the levels of primary and more complex cytogenetic DNA damage in white blood cells. Considering its complex composition, to undoubtedly explain the underlying mechanisms of cyto/radioprotective effects, further studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. vesna@biol.pmf.hr
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benkovic
authors.forename: Anica Horvat
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Knezevic
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orsolic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basic
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramic
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Viculin
authors.forename: Fabijan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Knezevic
authors.forename: Nevenka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopjar
mesh_terms: D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; C043561:chrysin; D011429:Propolis; C005274:naringin; C040048:caffeic acid