Ganoderma lucidum total triterpenes prevent radiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in splenic lymphocytes in vitro

• Published in: Mutation research Vol. 726; no. 2; pp. 188 - 194
• Main Authors: Smina, T.P., De, Strayo, Devasagayam, T.P.A., Adhikari, S., Janardhanan, K.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 24.12.2011; Elsevier; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Ageing, cell death; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Cell physiology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Comet Assay; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA damage; DNA Damage - drug effects; DNA Damage - radiation effects; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; G. lucidum; Gamma Rays; Ganoderma; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Irradiation; Karst; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - radiation effects; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Mushrooms; Radiation Injuries - prevention & control; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Radioprotection; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Reishi - chemistry; Spleen - cytology; Toxicology; Triterpene; Triterpenes - pharmacology; G. lucidum; Radioprotection; DNA damage; Triterpene; Apoptosis; In vitro; Basidiomycota; Fungi; Toxicology; DNA; Irradiation; Genetics; Lesion; Lymphocyte; Ganoderma
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 0027-5107; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.09.005

► Radioprotection of mouse splenocytes by Ganoderma triterpenes was examined in vitro. ► Total triterpenes were effective in preventing DNA damage and ladder formation. ► It reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells as revealed by flow cytometric assay. ► It decreased intracellular ROS generation and enhanced endogenous antioxidant status. ► The findings suggest its therapeutic use as an ideal radio protector in radiotherapy. The development of radioprotective agents has been the subject of intense research, especially in the field of radiotherapy. In this study, we examined the radioprotective activity of the total triterpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst in mouse splenic lymphocytes in vitro. Using the MTT assay, Ganoderma triterpenes were found to have no effect on cell viability, indicating that they are non-toxic to splenic lymphocytes. The effect of the total triterpenes on DNA damage and apoptosis induced by radiation was analyzed using the comet assay, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometric analysis. Total triterpenes were found to be highly effective in preventing DNA laddering, even at low concentrations (25μg/ml). The comet assay demonstrated that the G. triterpenes effectively prevented DNA damage, and flow cytometry revealed a reduction in apoptotic cells. The effect of the total triterpenes on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity in splenic lymphocytes were determined to elucidate possible radioprotective mechanisms. Total triterpenes successfully reduced the formation of intracellular ROS and enhanced endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity in splenic lymphocytes following irradiation. Thus, these findings indicate that the total triterpenes isolated from G. lucidum have a remarkable ability to protect normal cells from radiation-induced damage, which suggests therapeutic potential.