TITLE:
Bioflavonoids as Important Component of Biological Protection from Ionizing Radiation
AUTHORS:
Mikhail V. Vasin
KEYWORDS:
Bioflavonoids; Antioxidants; Radiation Protective Agents; Radiomodulators; Low-Dose-Rate Irradiation
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.5 No.5,
February
26,
2014
ABSTRACT:
New advances in the area
of deciphering the mechanism for a possible modification of the biological
effects of radiation exposure at the genetic level make it possible to
distinguish the group of radiation protective agents having their own specific
features in the implementation of their beneficial effects. The mechanism
of the radioprotective action of bioflavonoids is worthy of a detailed analysis
in view of their great biological importance. Radiobiological studies show that
antioxidants can reduce the radiation damage to membranes and favor more
adequate energy dependent adaptive and reparative processes after the exposure
to radiation. Bioflavonoids are significant component of “biological protection” for a enhance of
resistance of the body to environmental factors that are adverse for human
health, including ionizing radiation, with reducing the risk of carcinogenic
effects and decreasing the biological age. The best practical value of bioflavonoids,
can be considered as the agents for prophylaxis against the development of
oxidative stress. These are the reasons why the administration of natural
antioxidants have a pathogenetic justification for exposures to chronic
(months, years) low-rate-dose ionizing radiation. These agents were previously and are currently
being developed for use during long-term, low-ratedose exposures to radiation,
under conditions of long space missions. Acting as low-dose
stressors through a hormetic mechanism and a “substrate” support of adaptive
shifts radiomodulators results in an increase in the antioxidant defense of the
body and the rearrangement of its functioning in the new environment with the
modulation of gene expression of antioxidant response elements by activation of
Nrd2/KeapI and Sirtuin/FoxO pathways and a decrease in the transcription factor
NF-κB.