Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) in the Presence of Mentha-Pulegium Essential Oil: A Study on the Radioprotective Effect

Background: The Mentha-Pulegium essential oil (MP-EO) contains different antioxidant compounds and reduces the indirect effects of dispersed ionizing radiation on biological systems. Objective: The current study aimed to assess a possible radio-protective effect of MP-EO on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Material and Methods: In this experimental study, MP-EO was firstly prepared and PBMCs were then irradiated in various groups with doses of ۲۵ and ۲۰۰ cGy of X-rays in the presence of IC۱۰ of MP-EO. After incubation times of ۴۸h and ۷۲h, the survival, apoptosis, and necrosis percentages of PBMCs were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analyses; the radio-protective effect of MP-EO was examined. Results: In the presence of ۸۰ µg/ml (IC۱۰) MP-EO, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs by radiation doses of ۲۵ and ۲۰۰ cGy was significantly increased after ۴۸h of incubation compared with the control. At ۷۲h of incubation, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs was significantly increased only at ۲۵ cGy. The percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of PBMCs was significantly reduced in the presence of the MP-EO at both incubation times and radiation doses; therefore, the highest reduction was at ۲۰۰ cGy and ۴۸h incubation compared to the control. Conclusion: MP-EO as a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective compound can exhibit a favorable in-vitro radio-protective effect by increasing the survival and decreasing the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of irradiated PBMCs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Lymphocytes ، Mentha Pulegium Essential Oil ، Radiation ، Ionizing ، Radioprotective ، apoptosis ، Necrosis