Evidence based research using phytochemicals as radioprotectors against ionizing-radiation

Radiation is powerful physical phenomenon of mother nature. Planned use of radiation will increase in future as it is useful means for diagnosis and therapy. Conversely, humans face the threats of accidental exposures from radiation. Hence, development of appropriate evidence based radioprotectors should be in vogue. The current presentation will provide evidences on contribution of bioactive phytochemicals with definite chemical signatures as radioprotectors. The phytochemicals like quercetin, rutin, gossypetin, naringin, ferulic acid and shikimic acid prevented many events related to mitochondrial integrity and membrane polarization after radiation exposure, apart from systemic and cellular stresses. The radiation mediated authoritative cellular changes either in ex vivo or in vivo experiments. Radiation was responsible for augmentation of oxidative stress situation, promulgation of inflammation, DNA damage and promotion of apoptosis. On the other hand we found modulatory role of the phyto molecules favouring protection in terms of mitochondria dependant protein expressions of Mn-SOD, Bcl2, Bax, Cytochrome C along with prevention of mitochondrial integrity and membrane polarization alteration. Our results showed the radioprotection using plant bioactive compounds in terms of free radical scavenging abilities and maintenance of cellular antioxidant status using plant bioactive compounds. We concluded that the chemical structure-activity relationship of the phytocompounds restricts the cellular changes initiated by ionizing radiation with assertive involvement of specific subcellular signaling molecules. (author)