Evaluation of possible radioprotective effect of Turkish propolis exracts on ionizing (y-Gamma) radiation induced human fibroblast cell lines

Propolis is an important bee product, rich of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids, it has antibacterial, antitumoral, antiinflammatory, antioxidative, antimutagenic properties and changeable composition according to climate and geography of harvest region, and is used as a natural drug with other useful activites. Biological effect of propolis is predominantly attributed to its content of flavonoids. Exposure of ionizing radiation leads to direct and indirect genotoxic damage on livings. Direct effect occur by single and double strand bonds on DNA; indirect effect occur by free radicals which are resulting from interaction of radiation and water. These free radicals may interact biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, lipids, carbonhydrates and may cause mutagenic, carcinogenic effects because of oxidative DNA damage. However many methods have been used in genotoxicity studies, comet analysis, a cheap, simple and repeatable method, steps forward other techniques. In the present study, the radioprotective effect of ethanolic extracts of Turkish propolis on 3 Gy gamma radiation (30cGy/min) induced fibroblast cell lines was investigated using comet analysis. Comet scores obtained from pretreatments of cells 15 and 30 minutes with concentration of 100, 200 and 300 ?g/mL ethanolic exracts of propolis before irradiation showed significant difference between just 3 Gy irradiated cells (p<0.001). For generating positive control group amifostine synthetic aminothiyol compound with radioprotective effect; was used. It was concluded that ethanolic extracts of Turkish propolis prevent 3 Gy gamma radiation induced DNA damage in fibroblast cell lines and might have rodioprotective activity.