title: Concentration-Dependent Protection by Ethanol Extract of Propolis against γ-Ray-Induced Chromosome Damage in Human Blood Lymphocytes.
abstract: Radioprotection with natural products may be relevant to the mitigation of ionizing radiation-induced damage in mammalian systems; in this sense, propolis extracts have shown effects such as antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulant. We report for the first time a cytogenetic study to evaluate the radioprotective effect, in vitro, of propolis against radiation-induced chromosomal damage. Lymphocytes were cultured with increasing concentrations of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP), including 20, 40, 120, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 μg mL(-1) and then exposed to 2 Gy γ-rays. A significant and concentration-dependent decrease is observed in the frequency of chromosome aberrations in samples treated with EEP. The protection against the formation of dicentrics was concentration-dependent, with a maximum protection at 120 μg mL(-1) of EEP. The observed frequency of dicentrics is described as negative exponential function, indicating that the maximum protectible fraction of dicentrics is approximately 44%. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities are the mechanisms that these substances use to protect cells from ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Protección Radiológica, Hospital Universitario La Fe, 46009 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Barquinero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almonacid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sebastià
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verdú
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sahuquillo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saiz
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Villaescusa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soriano