Sulforaphane mitigates genotoxicity induced by radiation and anticancer drugs in human lymphocytes

• CBMN assay of radiation accident victims in India was performed.
• Sulforaphane was evaluated for its anti-mutagenic potential in vitro.
• Sulforaphane also ameliorated bleomycin and doxorubicin induced genotoxicity.
• Sulforaphane enhanced CD 34+Lin− cell survival.
• Sulforaphane restored the normal HDAC activity level in irradiated lymphocytes.

Sulforaphane, present in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, is a dietary anticancer agent. Sulforaphane, added 2 or 20 h following phytohemaglutinin stimulation to cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals accidentally exposed to mixed γ and β-radiation, reduced the micronucleus frequency by up to 70%. Studies with whole blood cultures obtained from healthy volunteers confirmed the ability of sulforaphane to ameliorate γ-radiation-induced genotoxicity and to reduce micronucleus induction by other DNA-damaging anticancer agents, such as bleomycin and doxorubicin. This reduction in genotoxicity in lymphocytes treated at the G0 or G1 stage suggests a role for sulforaphane in modulating DNA repair. Sulforaphane also countered the radiation-induced increase in lymphocyte HDAC activity, to control levels, when cells were treated 2 h after exposure, and enhanced histone H4 acetylation status. Sulforaphane post-irradiation treatment enhanced the CD 34+Lin− cell population in culture. Sulforaphane has therapeutic potential for management of the late effects of radiation.