title: Chemical genoprotection: reducing biological damage to as low as reasonably achievable levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant substances present in the human diet with an antimutagenic protective capacity against genotoxic damage induced by exposure to X-rays in an attempt to reduce biological damage to as low a level as reasonably possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten compounds were assessed using the lymphocyte cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) cytome test. The compounds studied were added to human blood at 25 μM 5 min before exposure to irradiation by 2 Gy of X-rays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The protective capacity of the antioxidant substances assessed was from highest to lowest according to the frequency of the MN generated by X-ray exposure: rosmarinic acid = carnosic acid = δ-tocopherol = l-acid ascorbic = apigenin = amifostine (P < 0.001) > green tea extract = diosmine = rutin = dimetylsulfoxide (P < 0.05) > irradiated control. The reduction in genotoxic damage with the radiation doses administered reached 58%, which represents a significant reduction in X-ray-induced chromosomal damage (P < 0.001). This degree of protection is greater than that obtained with amifostine, a radioprotective compound used in radiotherapy and which is characterised by its high toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several antioxidant substances, common components of the human diet and lacking toxicity, offer protection from the biological harm induced by ionizing radiation. Administering these protective substances to patients before radiological exploration should be considered, even in the case of small radiation doses and regardless of the biological damage expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, University of Murcia, 30100- Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. mab@um.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcaraz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armero
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Martínez-Beneyto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benavente-García
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcaraz-Saura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canteras
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D053630:Depsides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D004145:Diosmin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011874:Radiometry; D012431:Rutin / Q000494:pharmacology; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000494:pharmacology; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D004999:Amifostine; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D047310:Apigenin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002392:Catechin; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D004145:Diosmin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D012431:Rutin; D024505:Tocopherols; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; C479072:delta-tocopherol; C018381:salvin