Radioprotective effects of kojic acid against mortality induced by gamma irradiation in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the protective effects of kojic acid on mortality induced by gamma irradiation in mice. The efficacy was compared with amifostine as a reference radioprotector.


METHODS
This experimental study was conducted in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari and Babolsar Radiotherapy Hospital, Babolsar, Iran, between October 2006 and January 2008. Kojic acid was administrated subcutaneously as single doses of 142, 175, 232, and 350 mg/kg, one hour prior to a lethal dose of gamma irradiation (8 Gy). Amifostine was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 200 mg/kg at a similar irradiation dose. The mortality was recorded 30 days after irradiation. The antioxidant activity of the kojic acid was assessed using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free stable radical (DPPH) method.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty NMRI mice were divided into 6 groups with 20 mice in each group. At 30 days after treatment, the percentage of survival in each group was: control, 5%; 142 mg/kg, 5%; 175 mg/kg, 0%; 232 mg/kg, 30%; 350 mg/kg, 40%; and amifostine, 40% one hour treatment prior gamma irradiation. The survival rate was statistically increased in animals treated with kojic acid (350 mg/kg), one hour prior irradiation, as compared with the irradiated control group. Kojic acid exhibited concentration-dependent scavenging activity on DPPH possessing strong antioxidant activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Kojic acid with antioxidant activity reduced the mortality induced by gamma irradiation.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. sjhosseinim@yahoo.com
Seyed J
SJ
Hosseinimehr
Saeed
S
Emami
Vali
V
Zakaryaee
Amirhossein
A
Ahmadi
Daryush
D
Moslemi
D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D011753:Pyrones; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; C011890:kojic acid; D004999:Amifostine