Caffeine protects mice against whole-body lethal dose of gamma-irradiation

Abstract

Administration of caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), a major component of coffee, to Swiss mice at doses of 80 or 100 mg/kg body weight 60 min prior to whole-body lethal dose of gamma-irradiation (7.5 Gy) resulted in the survival of 70 and 63% of animals, respectively, at the above doses in contrast to absolutely no survivors (LD-100/25 days) in the group exposed to radiation alone. Pre-treatment with a lower concentration of caffeine (50 mg/kg) did not confer any radioprotection. The protection exerted by caffeine (80 mg/kg), however, was reduced from 70 to 50% if administered 30 min prior to irradiation. The trend statistics reveal that a dose of 80 mg/kg administered 60 min before whole-body exposure to 7.5 Gy is optimal for maximal radioprotection. However, caffeine (80 mg/kg) administered within 3 min after irradiation offered no protection. While there is documentation in the literature that caffeine is an antioxidant and radioprotector against the oxic pathway of radiation damage in a wide range of cells and organisms, this is the first report demonstrating unequivocally its potent radioprotective action in terms of survival of lethally whole-body irradiated mice.

Computationally‐Assisted Approach to the Vibrational Spectra of Molecular Crystals: Study of Hydrogen‐Bonding and Pseudo‐Polymorphism

“…[2] All three compounds are also known to cause diuresis, [3] while CA administration seems to protect mice against a whole-body lethal dose of g-irradiation. [4] The polymorphic behavior of drugs is a major concern of the pharmaceutical industry since different packing arrangements of the same molecular species (polymorphism) can have markedly different biopharmaceutical properties. [5] It is well documented that CA and TP are sensitive to polymorphic and pseudo-polymorphic transformations that affect their dissolution profiles and, consequently, their bioavailability.…”

Role of Radioprotectors in the Inhibition of DNA Damage and Modulation of DNA Repair After Exposure to Gamma-Radiation

“…In our other study, George et al showed that when caffeine (80 mg/kg) was administered i.p. 1 h before irradiation it increases the survival of the mice (George et al 1999). Radioprotection in mice at the same dose of caffeine may be related to modulation of radiation-induced apoptotic genes, for example, the depression of bax mRNA (Kim et al 2003).…”

Natural Radioprotective Agents: An Overview

“…More recently, it has also been reported to protect mice against damage from whole body lethal dose of γ-radiation [100]. Colchicine is reported to protect animals against γ-ray induced damage [101].…”