Radio-protective Effects and Mechanisms of Medicinal Plants against X-ray: A Systematic Review

X-ray is used routinely in many medical procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. But despite many benefits, there are several complications including breakdown of different bio-molecules, lipids, DNA and proteins that cause cytotoxicity in the body tissue by several mechanisms like the generation of free radicals and oxidative stress. This study was conducted to investigate the radio-protective effects and mechanisms of medicinal plants against X-ray damages and X-ray-toxicity in diagnostic radiology. Medicinal plants and their derivatives contain polyphenols which exert potent anti-oxidant activity via up-regulated mRNAs of anti-oxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and thus may counteract the oxidative stress induced by ionizing radiations. In addition, they exhibit protective effects against radiation-induced apoptosis by increasing Bcl-2 gene expression, with a significant decrease in BAX gene expression in irradiated cells and tissues and reduction in caspase-3 and caspase-6. Medicinal herbs and their compounds act as anti-inflammatory agents and exert their radio-protective effects against x-ray they exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines. Hence the possible protective mechanisms against X-ray are anti-oxidant activity, anti-inflammatory and anti apoptotic properties of medicinal plants.