Radioprotection of DNA by glycyrrhizic acid through scavenging free radicals.

Gamma-radiation induced strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA. Glycyrrhizic acid (GZA) protected plasmid DNA from radiation-induced strand breaks, as the disappearance of super-coiled (ccc) form was prevented by the compound with a dose-reduction factor of 2.04 at 2.5 mM concentration. Studies of comet assay on human peripheral blood leukocytes exposed to gamma radiation in the presence and absence of glycyrrhizic acid ex vivo revealed that this compound protected the cellular DNA from radiation-induced strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner. An intraperitoneal administration of the GZA to mice one hour before exposure to gamma radiation protected cellular DNA from radiation-induced strand breaks in peripheral blood leucocytes and bone marrow cells, as revealed by comet assay. Pulse radiolysis studies indicated that glycyrrhizic acid offered radioprotection by scavenging free radicals. The rate constants for the reaction of glycyrrhizic acid with OH* and e(aq)- are 1.2 x 10(10 ) M(-1) s(-1) and 3.9 x 10(9 ) M(-1) s(-1), respectively.