Dragon's Blood May Have Radioprotective Effects in Radiation-Induced Rat Brain Injury

Abstract

Dragon's blood is a bright red resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis. It is a traditional medicinal that is used for wound healing and to stop bleeding. Its main biological activity appears to be from phenolic compounds found in Dragon's blood. In this study, the radioprotective effects of Dragon's blood were examined after whole brain irradiation of rats with either 100 MeV/u Carbon (12)C(6+) heavy ions or (60)Co γ-rays. The amounts of radiation-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in irradiated rat brains were compared with and without Dragon's blood treatment. Compared to the "irradiation only" control group, the Dragon's blood treatment group significantly decreased malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels induced by oxidative stress in radiation exposed rats (P < 0.05). Dragon's blood also significantly reduced radiation-induced inflammatory cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and interleukin-6 levels (P < 0.05) and inhibited hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in (60)Co γ-ray irradiated rats. Furthermore, Dragon's blood significantly increased expression of brain-derived neurophic factor and inhibited the expression of pro-apoptotic caspase 3 (P < 0.05-0.01). Finally, Dragon's blood significantly inhibited expression of the AP-1 transcription factor family members c-fos and c-jun proteins (P < 0.05-0.01). The results obtained here suggest that Dragon's blood has radioprotective properties in rat brains after both heavy ions and (60)Co γ-ray exposure.

Dragon’s blood and its extracts attenuate radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice

“…Our previous studies revealed that DB has radioprotective properties, including reduction of oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and neuronal apoptosis after whole-brain irradiation of rats with either heavy ions or γ-rays [30]. In the present study, the radioprotective effect of DB and DBEs in preventing γ-radiation-induced MDA, and in attenuating the inhibition of SOD, CAT and GSH was assessed in the liver and spleen of male BALB/c mice.…”

Ameliorative role of Teucrium polium extract on γ-radiation toxicity in brain of albino rats

“…a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in the brain making it more liable to oxidative damage which is an important mechanism of rIBI. In some preceding studies, ionizing radiation induced significant oxidative stress levels in neuron cells, characterized by the increase of rOS and malondialdehyde (mDa) in addition to the reduction of antioxidants including reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (rola et al, 2007;huang et al, 2012 andXin et al, 2012). rOS scavengers were illustrated to be effective in ameliorating radiationinduced neuronal injury (Xin et al, 2012 andLu et al, 2015).…”

Meta-analysis of dragon’s blood resin extract as radio-protective agent

“…Radiations cause myelosuppression and reduce bone growth in young children. DB and dragons blood resin extract (DBE) (its 50% ethanol extracts) have potential radio-protective properties in mouse bone marrow after 60 Co γ-ray's exposure, which supports their candidature as a potential radio-protective and anti-oxidant agent against DNA damage [10,37]. Cytogenetic studies showed that DB and DBE treatment were highly effective in decreasing both simple and complex chromosomal aberrations.…”

“…DB is a bright red resin [8] due to presence of flavylium chromophores [9], which has ethnomedicinal properties because it contains phenolic compounds [10,11]. The blood-red sap of Croton lechleri was found to contain proanthocyanidins as a major constituent which accounted for up to 90% of the dried weight [12].…”