Radioprotective effects of Daflon against genotoxicity induced by gamma irradiation in human cultured lymphocytes.

The ability of Daflon to protect against genotoxicity induced by gamma irradiation has been investigated in vivo and in vitro in cultured lymphocytes from healthy human volunteers. Peripheral human blood samples were collected predose (10 min before) and 1, 2, and 3 hr after a single oral ingestion of 1000 mg of Daflon. At each time point, whole blood was exposed in vitro to 150 cGy of cobalt-60 gamma rays, and then the lymphocytes were cultured with mitogenic stimulation to determine the micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells. For each volunteer, the results showed a significant increase in the incidence of micronuclei after exposure to gamma irradiation as compared to control unexposed samples. As early as 1 hr after Daflon administration, a significant decrease in the incidence of micronuclei was observed in comparison with similarly irradiated lymphocytes collected before administration. The maximum protection was reached 1 hr after administration of Daflon with a significant decrease in the frequency of micronuclei of 40%. These findings suggest the possible application of Daflon for the protection of human lymphocytes from the genetic damage and side effects induced by gamma irradiation.