Radioprotective effects of mistletoe extract in zebrafish embryos in vivo. (3rd August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rim, Chai Hong; Koun, Soonil; Park, Hae-Chul; Lee, Suk; Kim, Chul Yong
• Is Part Of: International journal of radiation biology. Volume 95:Number 8(2019)
• Page Start: 1150
• Page End: 1159
• Publication Date: 2019-08-03
• Subjects: Zebrafish -- radiotherapy -- radioprotectant -- mistletoe; Radiation -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Radiobiology -- Periodicals; 571.45
• DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1590661
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-3002

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Radioprotectors can enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy, but their clinical use remains uncommon. The present study aimed to assess the radioprotective potential of mistletoe extract (commercial name: Abnoba Viscum), a well-known complementary cancer medicine, in zebrafish larvae. Materials and methods: Wild-type AB zebrafish embryos at 4 h-post-fertilization were exposed to 5 Gy 9-MeV electron beam irradiation after being treated for 1 h with 4 mMl/L amifostine or 0.2 mg/ml Abnoba Viscum A, F, M, or Q. Primary endpoints were abnormality-free survival and abnormality-free rates among survivors at 5 days-post-fertilization. Results: The crude abnormality-free survival rates were 33.7%, 49.0%, 38.8%, 43.9%, 38.1%, and 52.6%, whereas abnormality-free rates among survivors were 36.4%, 49.6%, 37.8%, 45.6%, 52.0%, and 62.8% for the control (with no pharmacologic treatment), amifostine, Abnoba Viscum A, F, M, and Q groups, respectively. Abnormality-free survival rates in the amifostine and Abnoba Viscum Q groups were significantly different from those in the control ( p = .040 and .012, respectively), with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.90 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–3.51] and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.19–4.08), respectively. Abnormality-free rates among survivors in the amifostine and Abnoba Viscum M and Q groups were significantly different from those in the control group ( p = .048, .042, and <.001, respectively), with an OR of 1.79 (95% CI: 1.00–3.20), 1.82 (95% CI: 1.02–3.26), and 2.98 (1.67–5.33), respectively. Conclusion: Abnoba Viscum Q has at least a similar radioprotective effect to that of amifostine. Mistletoe extracts have been clinically applied for a long time and their effectiveness and feasibility have been verified. Abnoba Viscum Q might be a new candidate radioprotectant to enhance cancer radiotherapy efficacy. Graphical Abstract: