Radioprotection: Mechanisms and Radioprotective Agents Including Honeybee Venom

Abstract

Since 1949, a great deal of research has been carried out on the radioprotective action of chemical substances. These substances have shown to reduce mortality when administered to animals prior to exposure to a lethal dose of radiation. This fact is of considerable importance since it permits reduction of radiation-induced damage and provides prophylactic treatment for the damaging effects produced by radiotherapy. The following radioprotection mechanisms were proposed: free radical scavenger, repair by hydrogen donation to target molecules, formation of mixed disulfides, delay of cellular division and induction of hypoxia in the tissues. Radioprotective agents have been divided into four major groups: the thiol compounds, other sulfur compounds, pharmacological agents (anesthetic drugs, analgesics, tranquilizers, etc.) and other radioprotective agents (WR-1065, WR-2721, vitamins C and E, glutathione, etc.). Several studies revealed the radioprotective action of Apis mellifera honeybee venom as well as that of its components mellitin and histamine. Radioprotective activity of bee venom involves mainly the stimulation of the hematopoietic system. In addition, release of histamine and reduction in oxygen tension also contribute to the radioprotective action of bee venom

Antimicrobial activity of apitoxin, melittin and phospholipase A2 of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom against oral pathogens

“…Traditional examples are pollination and the production of honey, resins, wax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, and apitoxin (bee venom). Compounds synthesized by bees have been extensively studied due to their various therapeutic applications (Varanda and Tavares 1998, Perumal Samy et al 2007, Boutrin et al 2008, Alia et al 2013.…”

Radioprotective Effects of Quercetin and Ethanolic Extract of Propolis in Gamma-Irradiated Mice

“…These include polyphenols and honeybee products such as propolis and bee venom. The awareness of their radioprotective properties has increased over the last decade, and their effects have extensively been studied in vitro and in vivo (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in human diet and include hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, fl avonols, fl avones, fl avanols, fl avanones, isofl avones, stilbenes, and lignans (13).…”

Herbal Remedies for Combating Irradiation: a Green Anti-irradiation Approach

“…Numerous investigations on radioprotection mechanisms have been carried out in several biological systems and the following radioprotection mechanisms have been proposed from these studies: free radical scavenger, repair by hydrogen donation to target molecules, formation of mixed sulphides, delaying of cellular division and induction of hypoxia in the tissue (Varanda and Tavares, 1998). The mechanism of free radical scavenger suggests that medicinal plants will donate electrons to the free radicals and form a stable compound incapable of reacting with other cellular components.…”

“…According to this proposed mechanism, the sulphydryl compound of medicinal plants form mixed disulphides with sulphydryl compounds of cellular proteins. Once the free radicals generated by irradiation attack the disulphides, the sulphur atoms will be reduced and the other sulphur atom will be oxidized (Varanda and Tavares, 1998). This mechanism prevents the free radicals from reacting with the vital cell components because if the sulphur atom of the protein is reduced by the free radicals and the sulphur atom of the protective agent is oxidized, the protein is not damaged.…”

“…Moreover, the induction of hypoxia in tissue in certain conditions may contribute to radioprotection. Nevertheless, other mechanisms might be involved, since some compounds exhibit radioprotective activity without altering the oxygen tension on the tissue (Varanda and Tavares, 1998). There is evidence of the existence of more than one radioprotective mechanism of a certain compound, and that one of the compounds might be more or less important, depending on the irradiated system and on the specific radiation conditions (Prasad, 1982).…”