Mushroom beta glucan: Potential candidate for post irradiation protection

The in vivo radioprotective effect of a beta-glucan (BG) isolated from the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, against radiation (RT) induced damage was investigated taking mouse survival, hematology, liver GSH (Reduced glutathione), liver Malondialdehyde (MDA) and bone marrow chromosomal aberrations as end points. Young adult swiss albino mice were whole body exposed to gamma radiation. For mouse survival study, BG was administered orally (250 μg/kg body wt or 500 μg/kg body wt) 15 min before or 5 min after 8 Gy exposure. For other parameters BG was given orally 5 min after 4 Gy exposure. The radioprotective effect of BG was compared with that of clinically used radioprotective drug amifostine (WR-2721), at 300 mg/kg body wt administered intraperitoneally, 30 min before irradiation. BG (500 μg/kg body wt) produced (66%) mouse survival at 30 days given post irradiation, and 83% survived at 30 days with 300 mg/kg body wt of amifostine administered before RT while RT alone produced 100% mortality. BG is not toxic at the radioprotective dose. Significant reduction in number of aberrant cells and different types of aberration was observed in both BG and amifostine administered groups compared to radiation alone treated group. BG seems to have potential for use in protection against unplanned radiation exposures.

► The in vivo radioprotective effect of a beta glucan was investigated.
► Mouse survival, hematology, liver GSH and MDA were studied
► Bone marrow chromosomal aberrations in mice were also studied.
► BG gave significant radioprotection when administered after irradiation.
► The study suggests the potential use of BG both in medical and non-medical exposure.