Radioprotective Effects of Plants from the Lamiaceae Family

Abstract

Background: Edible and medicinal plants are still an interesting source of promising biologically active substances to drug discovery and development. At a time of increasing cancer incidence in the world, alleviating the bothersome side effects of radiotherapy in debilitated cancer patients is becoming an important challenge. Objective: The aim of the study was to overview the literature data concerning the radioprotective activity of extracts, essential oils, and some chemical compounds obtained from 12 species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, gathering of numerous spice and medicinal plants rich in valuable phytochemicals. Results and Conclusion: The analysis of available publications showed radioprotective effectiveness of essential oils and complex extracts containing phenolic acids and flavonoids in various in vitro and in vivo models. Relatively welldocumented preventive properties exhibited the following species: Mentha × piperita, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Origanum vulgare, and Rosmarinus officinalis. However, few plants such as Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha arvensis, M. spicata, Plectranthus amboinicus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, S. officinalis, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Zataria multiflora should be more investigated in the future. Among the mechanisms of radioprotective effects of well-studied extracts and phytochemicals, it can be mentioned mainly the protection against chromosomal damage, scavenging free radicals, decreasing of lipid peroxidation and elevating of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels as well as the reduction the cell death. The plant substances protected the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow and lung fibroblasts. In conclusion, studied species of Lamiaceae family and their active chemical compounds are potent in alleviating the side effects of radiotherapy and should be considered as a complementary therapy.

Could Polyphenols Really Be a Good Radioprotective Strategy?

“…Lamiaceae family is attributed to have radioprotector ability, with mechanisms including mainly free radicals scavenging, DNA damage protection, decreasing of lipid peroxidation and enhancing of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase enzymes activity levels [99]. For instance, Mentha piperita is a plant belonging to this family, containing eugenol, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and α-tocopherol that play a key role for anti-cancer and radioprotective properties [84,100].…”

Naringenin, Hesperidin and Quercetin Ameliorate Radiation‐Induced Damage In Rats: In Vivo And In Silico Evaluations

“…[9] Meanwhile, a special class of radiosensitizers in tumor tissues may be provided by several natural compounds with anti-viral and anti-tumor properties. [10] Flavonoids are a group of secondary metabolic products of plants that have been shown to have a variety of pharmacological actions, including the promotion of antioxidation, immune system and cardiovascular protection, as well as antiinflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-viral properties. [11,12] A naturally occurring flavonoid, quercetin is present in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including nuts, apples, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, and berries.…”

“…Natural remedies with immune‐stimulating and anti‐oxidant properties are usually thought to provide radioprotective properties for healthy tissues [9] . Meanwhile, a special class of radiosensitizers in tumor tissues may be provided by several natural compounds with anti‐viral and anti‐tumor properties [10] . Flavonoids are a group of secondary metabolic products of plants that have been shown to have a variety of pharmacological actions, including the promotion of antioxidation, immune system and cardiovascular protection, as well as anti‐inflammatory, anti‐tumor and anti‐viral properties [11,12] .…”

Usage of spicy aromatic plants of the flora of Armenia in the national cuisine

“…Plant species of many families are widely used as spices. Most often people use plants from the Brassicaceae (Aǧagündüz et al, 2022) and Lamiaceae (Karpiński et al, 2022) families as spices. Despite the comparative safety of many species of spice plants used to protect the health of living organisms (Panickar, 2013), many of them are capable of exerting a negative influence on the human organism and the organisms of model animals (Jacques & Bradatan, 2021;Koss-Mikołajczyk et al, 2021;Lietzow, 2021).…”