Astaxanthin modifies clastogenic effects of ionizing radiation in vitro in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the persons recovered from acute radiation sickness.

AIM: To assess radioprotective activity of astaxanthin toward radiation-induced in vitro cytogenetic effects in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: PBL from the cleanup workers exposed to ionizing radiation at high doses in 1986 during accident on Chornobyl nuclear power plant and who were diagnosed with acute radiation sickness of the first and second degrees, were cultured in vitro. Astaxanthin was added into the culture medium at a final concentration of 20.0 µg/ml, prior to γ-irradiation of PBL in vitro at a dose of 1 Gy. The slides of metaphase chromosomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Astaxanthin demonstrated considerable radioprotective effect in irradiated PBL manifested in significantly decreased levels of unstable cytogenetic markers of radiation exposure (dicentrics and centric rings). CONCLUSION: The data evidence on radioprotective capacity of astaxanthin toward radiation-induced cytogenetic effects in vitro in PBL of liquidators irradiated during Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident. This article is a part of a Special Issue entitled "The Chornobyl Nuclear Accident: Thirty Years After".