Thursday July 24, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published in the International Journal of Low Radiation, suggests that three cheap natural compounds isolated from plants can reduce the skin damage induced by gamma radiation during radiotherapy.

Faruck Lukmanul Hakkim of the University of Nizwa, Oman and colleagues from other countries tested the organic antioxidant compounds caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid and trans-cinnamic acid which were used at non-toxic concentrations to see if they protect against radiation-induced skin damage.

They found caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid and trans-cinnamic acid reduced the radiation induced skin damage by 40%, 20% and 15%, respectively.

These compounds were found not only to neutralize or deactivate the reactive oxygen species, but also enhance the body's natural DNA repair mechanism.

The researchers suggest that these natural acids might be best used as skin protectants during a combinational chemo- and radio-therapy.

Radiotherapy indicated for the treatment of cancer uses high doses of ionization radiation, such as gamma rays or x-rays, which kill or damage not only cancerous cells, but also healthy cells including the skin cells near cancer. In some cases, the skin can be literally "burned" by the high dose of radiation.  (Davi dLiu)

Reference

Lukmanul Hakkim, F., Miura, M., Matsuda, N., Alharassi, A.S., Guillemin, G., Yamauchi, M., Arivazhagan, G. and Song, H. (2014) 'An in vitro evidence for caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid and trans cinnamic acid as a skin protectant against -radiation', Int. J. Low Radiation, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp.305-316.