P A7. NATURAL PLANT PRODUCTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR RADIATION PROTECTION

G. Joksić, A. Leskovac, S. Petrović

Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia

The objective of the present study was to evaluate radioprotective properties of extracts of medicinal plants commonly used in Serbia on cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes after irradiation with 2 Gy of 60Co g-rays in vitro. Incidence of micronuclei, apoptosis and lipid peroxidation products were examined. Significant radiorecovery potentials of C. mas and C. monogyna were observed, mainly stimulating apoptosis. G. austriaca possesses strong antioxidant properties, and significantly reduced lipid peroxidation. E. arvense displayed weak toxicity, whereas G. dinarica, and particularly O. spinosa behaved as a strong radiosensitizer and possibly can be used for potentiation of radiotherapy. This study may contribute to the search for novel radioprotective agents.