Evaluation of the Radioprotective Potential of the Polyphenol Norbadione A

There is an obvious need to develop efficient countermeasure agents for use in emergency situations or as adjuncts to radiotherapy to protect healthy tissues from the consequences of an irradiation. To this end, we have investigated the capacity of norbadione A, a polyphenol extracted from the edible mushroom Bay boletus to reduce the toxicity of ionizing radiation towards cultured cells and whole-body exposed mice. Results indicate that this compound could slightly enhance the resistance of TK6 lymphoid cells to radiation and increase the survival rate in lethally irradiated mice. However, norbadione A was found to be cytotoxic at concentrations over 30 μM in vitro. The acute toxicity of this compound also precluded its use at higher doses for enhanced in vivo radioprotection. Norbadione A may nevertheless serve as lead for development of less toxic analogs with potentially cytoprotective/radioprotective activities.