title: Rasayana drugs from the Ayurvedic system of medicine as possible radioprotective agents in cancer treatment.
abstract: The use of ionizing radiation, which is the cornerstone of cancer treatment, is compromised by the radiosensitivity of normal tissues. A chemical that can give selective benefit to the normal cells against the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation has been a long-sought goal. However, most of the compounds studied have shown inadequate clinical application owing to their inherent toxicity, undesirable side effects, and high cost. Studies carried out in the past 2 decades have shown that some of the classical Indian Ayurvedic drugs (Amritaprasham, Ashwagandha Rasayana, Brahma Rasayana, Chyavanprasha, Narasimha Rasayana, and Triphala Churna) possess radioprotective effects. In the current review, an attempt is made to summarize the radioprotective observations of these Ayurvedic drugs and the mechanisms responsible for the radioprotective effects.
authors.affiliation: Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Manjeshwar Shrinath
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Baliga
authors.forename: Sharake
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meera
authors.forename: Lalit Kumar
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Vaishnav
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Princy Louis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Palatty
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents
keywords: Ayurveda; Rasayana drugs; cancer; polyherbal preparations; radiation protection