title: Mitigation of whole-body gamma radiation-induced damages by Clerodendron infortunatum in mammalian organisms.
abstract: Several phytoceuticals and extracts of medicinal plants are reported to mitigate deleterious effects of ionizing radiation. The potential of hydro-alcoholic extract of Clerodendron infortunatum (CIE) for providing protection to mice exposed to gamma radiation was investigated. Oral administration of CIE bestowed a survival advantage to mice exposed to lethal doses of gamma radiation. Radiation-induced depletion of the total blood count and bone marrow cellularity were prevented by treatment with CIE. Damage to the cellular DNA (as was evident from the comet assay and the micronucleus index) was also found to be decreased upon CIE administration. Radiation-induced damages to intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by CIE. Studies on gene expression in intestinal cells revealed that there was a marked increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in mice exposed to whole-body 4 Gy gamma radiation, and that administration of CIE resulted in significant lowering of this ratio, suggestive of reduction of radiation-induced apoptosis. Also, in the intestinal tissue of irradiated animals, following CIE treatment, levels of expression of the DNA repair gene Atm were found to be elevated, and there was reduction in the expression of the inflammatory Cox-2 gene. Thus, our results suggest a beneficial use of Clerodendron infortunatum for mitigating radiation toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Mar Athanasious College for Advanced Studies, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Tiju
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.affiliation: Pushpagiri Research Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Pushpagiri Research Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Teeju
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.affiliation: Pushpagiri Research Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sivaprabha V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Pushpagiri Research Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Nithu Sara
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Mar Athanasious College for Advanced Studies, Tiruvalla 689101, Kerala, India.|St. Gregorios Dental College and Research Centre, Kothamangalam 686681, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Cherupally Krishnan Krishnan
authors.initials: CKK
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D032409:Clerodendrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D048631:Micronucleus, Germline / Q000378:metabolism; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Atm; Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; Clerodendron infortunatum; Cox-2; comet assay; radiomodifiers; radioprotectors