Radioprotective Nature of Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan Mayapple)

Human beings are at risk of the exposure of radiation or radioactive materials since the World War II. Nuclear proliferation and terrorist activities has further strengthened the threats of the exposure of ionizing radiation (IR) to military, civilian, and emergency responders. IR possesses sufficient energy to strip electrons from atoms or molecules and thereby create highly reactive ions. IR at high enough doses either directly or indirectly induces ionization events that damage DNA, proteins or membrane lipids, through the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and other free radicals intracellularly. Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is particularly dangerous when exposure is of very short period of time [1]. The Chernobyl Catastrophe and FukushimaDaiichi nuclear plant misfortunes exemplify the need of radiation countermeasures.