Abstract

INTRODUCTION Ionizing radiations induce damage to the bone marrow and blood cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of sesamol oral consumption on mice bone marrow and peripheral blood cells using micronuclei and alkaline comet assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS This experimental-quantitative study was performed on 50 mice in 5 equal groups. One group received 50 mg/kg of sesamol for 7 consecutive days and another group received 100 mg/kg of this extract 2 h before irradiation (3 Gy gamma-rays of Cobalt-60). Irradiation without consuming sesamol and sesamol without irradiation were applied in other groups. Micronucleus and alkaline comet assays were used to measure the DNA damages in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells. The data were statistically compared using one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD test. RESULTS In comparison with the only-irradiated group, oral consumption of sesamol 2 h and 7 days before irradiation decreased remarkably micro-nucleated normochromatid erythrocytes (mnNCE) as 54.5% and 70.4% (P < 0.0001), and micro-nucleated nucleated polychromatid erythrocytes (mnPCE) as 49% and 66% (P < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, the number of PCE/NCE ratio increased as 47% and 83.6% (P < 0.0001) compared to the irradiated group. The percentage of DNA in tail and apoptotic comets decreased significantly with oral consumption of sesamol (daily or single dose) compared to the irradiated group (P < 0.005). These variations were greater in 7-day continuous pre-irradiation method. CONCLUSION Sesamol as a radioprotector can reduce the effects of gamma irradiation on mice bone marrow and blood cells. The daily oral consumption of this extract is more effective in comparison with the single consumption before irradiation.