Radioprotective Potential of Nutraceuticals and their Underlying Mechanism of Action.

Radiations are an efficient treatment modality in cancer therapy. Besides the treatment effects of radiations, the ionizing radiations interact with biological systems and generate reactive oxygen species that interfere with the normal cellular process. Previous investigations of synthetic radioprotectors have shown less effectiveness, mainly owing to some limiting effects. The nutraceuticals act as efficient radioprotectors to protect the tissues from the deleterious effects of radiation. The main radioprotection mechanism of nutraceuticals is the scavenging of free radicals while other strategies are involved modulation of signaling transduction of pathways like MAPK (JNK, ERK1/2, ERK5, and P38), NF-kB, cytokines, and their protein regulatory genes expression. The current review is focused on the radioprotective effects of nutraceuticals including vitamin E, -C, organosulphur compounds, phenylpropanoids, and polysaccharides. These natural entities protect against radiation-induced DNA damage. The review mainly entails the antioxidant perspective and mechanism of action of their radioprotective activities on a molecular level, DNA repair pathway, anti-inflammation, immunomodulatory effects, the effect on cellular signaling pathways, and regeneration of hematopoietic cells.