Radioprotection by α-asarone: prevention of genotoxicity and hematopoietic injury in mammalian organism.

α-Asarone (1-propenyl-2,4,5-methoxybenzol), one of the active components of Acorus calamus extract, was examined for its efficacy as a radioprotector in mice exposed to lethal and sublethal whole-body γ-radiation. Oral administration of α-asarone 1h prior to the radiation exposure reduced radiation induced alterations in the endogenous antioxidant defense systems. The radiation induced cellular DNA damages as revealed by comet assay, micronuclei formation and chromosomal aberrations were also significantly reduced following the asarone treatment. α-Asarone administration enhanced the endogenous spleen colony formation and reduced radiation-induced mortality and facilitated recovery from the radiation-induced loss of body weight in mice surviving after 8Gy γ-radiation exposure. These studies highlight the role of α-asarone as a good natural radioprotecting agent with therapeutic implications in case of radiation-exposure scenarios.