The radiation modifying effect and toxicity of tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram) have been studied. Disulfiram (DSM) inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, dopamine-beta-oxygenase, microsomal mixed-function oxidases and cytochrome P-450 enzymes. It is widely used for aversion therapy in alcoholism. Disulfiram also inhibits tumor formation by several known carcinogens. A biphasic toxicity patte...

There is controversy concerning the effect of pilocarpine in the reversal of radio-induced xerostomia; however, the tests are usually performed at the end of radiotherapy. The present study evaluated the radioprotective effects of pilocarpine when ingested during radiation treatment. Eleven patients (recently diagnosed with head and neck cancer who were not undergoing radiotherapy) were divided...

Radioprotective agents like selenium are used to reduce the damage caused by radiation in healthy tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium selenite on the development of the molars of offspring of rats irradiated during odontogenesis. Twenty pregnant rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, irradiated, selenium and selenium/irradiated. The selenium and selen...

Using rat liver mitochondria as model systems, we examined the radioprotective and antioxidant effects of the Indian medicinal plant Terminalia arjuna. Various sohxlet fractions of the bark and the medicinal formulation arjunsal besides an active ingredient, baicalein, were examined for their ability to protect both rat liver mitochondria and cardiac homogenate against radiation and oxidative s...

The administration of 5-azacytidine to mice (AKR strain) prior to irradiation with a supralethal dose of X-rays markedly reduces their mortality. In the pretreated animals the number of blood leukocytes and of bone marrow nucleated cells is considerably higher than in the animals that have been only irradiated. It is supposed that the radioprotective effect of 5-azacytidine favourably in­ fluen...

Pravastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl- glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase that has been reported to have therapeutic applications in a range of inflammatory conditions. The aim of the present study was to assess the radioprotective effects of pravastatin in an experimental animal model. Mice were divided into two groups: The control group received ionizing radiation with no prior medicat...

Ionizing radiation has the potential to cause extensive damage to living organisms. It can directly act on DNA, proteins and lipids, resulting in ionizing excitation and chemical bond cleavage, which can lead to molecular and cellular damage. Ionizing radiation can hydrolyze water molecules in the body, resulting in increased numbers of free radicals with strong oxidation ability. This process ...

BACKGROUND In previous work, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng saponin fraction (RGSF) showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. METHODS The present study investigated the radioprotective properties of RGSF by examining its effects on ionizing radiation (IR)-enhanced and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in murine macrophage cells. RESULTS RGSF induc...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radioprotective capacity of some novel aminoalkylated dithiocarbamic acid potassium salts against γ-irradiation in mice. Materials and Methods: Eight compounds containing 2-aminoethyl-, 3- aminopropyl-, 4-aminobutyl-, 5-aminopentyl-, 6- aminohexyl-, 7-aminoheptyl-, 8-aminooctyl and 9- aminononyl of dithiocarbamate derivatives were prepared. ...

Radiation-induced normal cell damage limits the delivery of high-dose radiation to targeted cancer. This study investigated the effect of epicatechin (EC), a minor component of green tea extracts, on radiation-induced cellular damage in vitro in primary cultured human fibroblasts and in vivo in a zebrafish model. Cell viability, proliferation and wound-healing efficacy, mitochondrial membrane p...