Mangiferin, a glucosylxanthone, protects against the radiation-induced micronuclei formation in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The effect of mangiferin (MGN), a glucosylxanthone, derived from Mangifera indica was studied on the radiation-induced DNA damage in the cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) by micronucleus assay, where HPBLs were treated with 0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 μg/ml of mangiferin 30 min before exposure to 3 Gy of ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation. Treatment of HPBLs with 50 μg/ml reduced the radiation-induced micronuclei to the maximum extent. Irradiation of HPBLs to 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 Gy resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of micronuclei, while treatment of HPBLs with 50 μg/ml MGN before exposure to 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 Gy of ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation resulted in a significant decline in the frequency of micronuclei when compared with the untreated irradiation group.