Title:Synthetic and Natural Radioprotective Agents: Recent Status and their Underlying Mechanism of Action
Volume: 26
Issue: 5
Author(s): Juhi Mishra, Neelam Poonia, Viney Lather, Dhruv Kumar Nishad and Deepti Pandita*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR), Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Pushp Vihar, Government of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi, 110017, India
- Centre for Advanced Formulation and Technology (CAFT), Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Pushp Vihar, Government of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi, 110017, India
Keywords:
Ionizing radiation, oxidative stress, synthetic, natural, radioprotectors, amifostine.
Abstract: Various substances possessing radiation scavenging properties, known as radioprotectors,
play a crucial role in shielding organisms from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation (IR)
by preventing cellular damage caused by free radicals. Initially, synthetic radioprotectors were
developed using thiol synthetic compounds. However, among these, only amifostine (WR-2721)
underwent clinical testing as a radioprotector. Various composites with different chemical structures
other than thiol compounds were also investigated. However, synthetic radioprotectors are
known to be associated with severe side effects, which lead to an inclination towards natural
substances. Plants and natural products have emerged as promising sources of radioprotectors,
renowned for their non-toxic nature across a broad range of doses and their cost-effectiveness.
Radioprotectors are employed in diverse pharmaceutical approaches to mitigate the toxicities
induced by radiation. The present review encompasses a detailed account of various synthetic
and naturally occurring compounds possessing radioprotective properties, and different investigations
related to their radioprotective action, ranging from free radicals scavenging to gene
therapy, have also been precisely covered. Numerous radioprotectors have different mechanisms
of action, and have proven benefits of naturally occurring compounds over chemically synthesized
ones.
