Resveratrol-Like Compound Offers Potential Natural Protection Against Radiation

Amid ongoing worries about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a compound similar to the antioxidant resveratrol could protect against radiation sickness.

The report's findings were published in April 14, 2011, in the journal ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. Dr. Michael Epperly, Dr. Kazunori Koide, and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) explained in their article that radiation exposure, either from accidents or from radiation therapy, can make people ill; higher doses could even cause death.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently assessing a drug for its ability to protect against radiation sickness, but it is difficult to make in large amounts, and the drug has side effects that prevent its use for cancer patients. To overcome these problems, the researchers evaluated whether resveratrol could protect against radiation injuries.

The investigators found that resveratrol protected cells in flasks but did not protect mice from radiation damage. However, the similar natural product called acetyl resveratrol did protect the irradiated mice. It also can be generated easily in large quantities and given orally. The authors cautioned, however, that it has not yet been determined whether acetyl resveratrol is effective when orally administered.

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