Planta Med 2008; 74(7): 736-740
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1074524
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Radioprotective Effects of Gentianella austriaca Fractions and Polyphenolic Constituents in Human Lymphocytes

Teodora Janković1 , Katarina Šavikin1 , Nebojša Menković1 , Ivana Aljančić2 , Andreja Leskovac3 , Sandra Petrović3 , Gordana Joksić3
  • 1Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ”Josif Pančić”, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2Institute for Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 3Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 8, 2007 Revised: March 10, 2008

Accepted: March 10, 2008

Publication Date:
29 April 2008 (online)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify active principles of Gentianella austriaca responsible for the reduction of the incidence of micronuclei in irradiated lymphocytes in vitro. The radioprotective effects of ether (EF) and methanolic (MeF) fractions, water-soluble xanthones demethylbellidifolin (1), demethylbellidifolin 8-O-glucoside (2), bellidifolin 8-O-glucoside (3), and flavonoid swertisin (4) against chromosomal damage induced by γ-rays were determined using the micronucleus test. EF and MeF showed better protection in treatment of human lymphocytes after γ-irradiation than did isolated compounds. Among the isolated compounds, the effectiveness in reduction of the frequency of micronuclei followed the order 4 > 3 > 2 > 1. The anti-lipoperoxidant activity was in the order 2 > 4 > 1, while 3 slightly increased the level of malondialdehyde. In addition, the effectiveness in induction of apoptosis followed the order, 3 > 2 > 4, while 1 had no proapoptotic effect. These results suggest that the antioxidative properties of the polyphenols tested may contribute to the radioprotective effects of G. austriaca.

Supporting information available online at http://www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/toc/plantamedica

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Teodora Janković

Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ”Dr. Josif Pančić”

Tadeuša Košśuška 1

11000 Belgrade

Serbia

Phone: +381-11-303-1652

Fax: +381-11-303-1649

Email: tjankovic@iplb.co.yu