title: Protective effect of polysaccharide-protein complex from a polypore mushroom, Phellinus rimosus against radiation-induced oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ionizing radiation induces severe oxidative stress in the body resulting an imbalance in prooxidant and antioxidant status in the cell. The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effect of polysaccharide protein complex (PPC-Pr) isolated  from the mushroom Phellinus rimosus against the oxidative stress induced by gamma radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  PPC-Pr complex was isolated from the aqueous extracts of P. rimosus. The complex was administered to Swiss albino mice at a concentration of 5 and  10 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally for 5 days consecutively and exposed to 4 Gy of gamma irradiation. Animals were sacrificed 1 day after irradiation and the antioxidant parameters such as glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase  as well as lipid peroxidation were evaluated in both liver and brain tissues to evaluate oxidative stress. Amifostine, a standard radioprotective agent, was used as a positive control. In vitro DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. Survival studies were also carried out to  determine the protective role of PPC-Pr against radiation-induced delayed oxidative stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPC-Pr treatment enhanced the declined levels of antioxidants and comet parameters to a significant level, indicating its antioxidant as well as DNA protecting  potential. Significant increase in the survival rate of animals was also observed in irradiated animals treated with PPC-Pr complex. The results were comparable to the standard drug amifostine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate profound effects of PPC-Pr against  radiation-induced oxidative stress. The findings suggest potential therapeutic use of PPC-Pr in radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Jini
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Sudheesh Narayana
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Panicker
authors.forename: Kainoor Krishnankutty
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Janardhanan
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D002374:Catalase; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004999:Amifostine