G-4481

The Radioprotective Effect of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss Essential Oil on Ionizing Radiation-Induced Genetic Damage in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

 Yasaman Yasheykh Akbari ¹ ℗, Mohammadhassan Moshafi ², Atekeh Torabizadeh ³ ©, Ali Jomehzadeh ⁴, Pardisa Ahangaran ¹   

 
Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to radiation during radiotherapy or accidental irradiation, induces side effects to health, it is important to develop strategies to protect humans against side effects induced by irradiation. In these cases, natural products as radioprotective drugs could be used to reduce or delay the side effects and the mortality induced by irradiation. Thus, Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. (D. kotschyi) is an important medicinal plant with a large number of active constituents. the most frequently reported constituents were xanthomicrol, limonene, luteolin, geranial, apigenin, and calycopterin. A number of medicinal properties were reported among them antioxidant, anticancerous, antihyperlipidemic, antispasmodic, antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. The strong antioxidant properties of this plant can reduce the cytogenetic damage caused by ionizing radiation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of D.kotschyi radiation protection on genetic toxicity (genotoxicity) caused by ionizing radiation on human peripheral blood lymphocytes using the micronucleus assay. Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, blood samples were collected from three healthy male volunteers. Lymphocytes were incubated with various concentrations of D. kotschyi essential oil (25, 50, 100, and 200 μM) for 2 hours and subsequently exposed to 1.5 Gy of ionizing radiation. Control groups (untreated, radiation-only, and essential oil-only) were also included. Genetic damage was assessed using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in human lymphocytes, with micronuclei (MN) frequency scored per 1000 cells. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software and one-way ANOVA. Results: Radiation exposure alone caused a highly significant increase (p 0.0001) in micronuclei frequency compared to the control group. Pretreatment with D. kotschyi essential oil significantly reduced this damage in a concentration-dependent manner. The most potent radioprotective effects were observed at concentrations of 100 and 200 μM, which resulted in a highly significant reduction (p 0.005) in micronuclei frequency compared to the radiation-only group. The essential oil alone showed no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects. 6. Conclusion and Discussion: This study shows that D. kotschyi essential oil greatly reduces genetic damage caused by radiation in human cells. The strongest protection was seen at the highest doses (100 and 200 μM). This beneficial effect is likely caused by its strong antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids. These results suggest that D. kotschyi could be a useful natural agent for reducing the harmful side effects of radiotherapy.

Keywords: Genotoxicity, Micronucleus, Ionizing radiation, D.kotschyi