Radioprotective Effect of Carvacrol Against X-Radiation-Induced Cellular Damage in Cultured Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes.

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the radioprotective effect of carvacrol (CVC) against X-radiation-induced cellular damage in cultured human blood lymphocytes. By MTT assay, the LD50 doses of CVC and X-radiation to lymphocytes were determined to be 100 μg/ml and 4 Gy, respectively. To explore the radioprotective effect of CVC, the cultured lymphocytes were treated with 100 μg/mL of CVC 30 min prior to 4 Gy irradiation. Subsequently, the radiation-induced damage was screened by micronuclei (MN) and dicentric chromosome (DC) frequencies and comet assay. The percentage of cell death was evaluated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. The radiation-induced oxidative stress was estimated by assessing the changes in the levels of enzymatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation markers. Compared with the sham control, we observed increases in MN and DC frequencies, comet attributes, % cell death, and lipid peroxidation with a concomitant decrease in the antioxidant status of the lymphocytes treated with radiation alone. Pre-treatment of lymphocytes with CVC (100 μg/mL) altered those changes mediated by radiation. These results clearly indicate that CVC may be an effective radioprotector against X-radiation. It has the ability to scavenge the free radicals produced and to protect cells from radiation-induced cell damage.