Evaluating the radioprotective effect of arbutin on mice exposed to megavoltage X-rays based on hematological parameters and lymphocytes micronucleus assay

X-irradiations induce damages to the hematopoietic system by reducing the production of blood cells in bone marrow. In this study, the radioprotective effect of arbutin was investigated in megavoltage x-irradiated mice by measuring changes in hematological parameters and lymphocyte cells with micronucleus assay.

Sixty NMRI mice were irradiated with 6 MV photon beam (2 and 4 Gy in one fraction). Various concentrations of arbutin (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were injected intra-peritoneal, 2 hours before whole body X-irradiation. Samples of peripheral blood cells were collected from the left ventricle. The frequency of micronuclei in 1000 cells were measured for each sample and level of peripheral blood cells were analyzed. The data were statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD test.

X-radiations significantly decreased the hematological parameters such as white blood cells (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), red blood cells (RBC) counts, and hemoglobin (HGB) levels compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The frequency of micronuclei in “2 and 4 Gy X-irradiation + distilled water” groups was significantly higher than “2 and 4 Gy irradiation + 50 mg/kg arbutin”, “2 and 4 Gy irradiation + 100 mg/kg arbutin”, and “2 and 4 Gy irradiation + 200 mg/kg arbutin” groups, followed by the above-mentioned blood cell parameters were dropped remarkably.

The present investigation showed that arbutin is a strong radioprotector. There were not any significant differences between the various concentrations of arbutin, however, the concentration of 50 mg/kg showed higher radioprotective effect.