Radioprotective effect of mefenamic acid against radiation-induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
Mefenamic acid (MEF) as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is used as a medication for relieving of pain and inflammation. Radiation-induced inflammation process is involved in DNA damage and cell death. In this study, the radioprotective effect of MEF was investigated against genotoxicity induced by ionizing radiation in human blood lymphocytes.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from human volunteers and incubated with MEF at different concentrations (5, 10, 50, or 100 µM) for two hours. The whole blood was exposed to ionizing radiation at a dose 1.5 Gy. Lymphocytes were cultured with mitogenic stimulation to determine the micronuclei in cytokinesis blocked binucleated lymphocyte.


RESULTS
A significant decreasing in the frequency of micronuclei was observed in human lymphocytes irradiated with MEF as compared to irradiated lymphocytes without MEF. The maximum decreasing in frequency of micronuclei was observed at 100 µM of MEF (38% decrease), providing maximal protection against ionizing radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The radioprotective effect of MEF is probably related to anti-inflammatory property of MEF on human lymphocytes.
Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Seyed Jalal
SJ
Hosseinimehr
Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Reyhaneh
R
Nobakht
Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Arash
A
Ghasemi
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Tayyeb Allahverdi
TA
Pourfallah
DNA damage; Mefenamic acid; Micronucleus test; Radiation-protective agents