Radioprotective effect of rosemary extract against gamma radiation-induced DNA damage.

Radiotherapy, a major cancer treatment, remains constrained by the collateral damage of gamma radiation to healthy cells. This study evaluated crude rosemary extract (CRE) as a potential radioprotective agent against DNA damage in Vero cells exposed to 2 Gy of gamma radiation. MTT (Bromure de 3-(4,5-diméthylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphényltétrazolium assays showed that CRE was non-toxic, with IC50 values of 13.08 mg/ml at 24 h and 13.75 mg/ml at 48 h. The optimal dose (1 mg/ml) preserved 92% cell viability post-irradiation. Immunofluorescence revealed a significant decrease in γ-H2AX foci, indicating reduced DNA double-strand breaks. Flow cytometry further confirmed that CRE lowered apoptosis to 6.4%, compared to 81.1% in irradiated controls. These findings highlight the potential of rosemary extract as a natural radioprotector capable of limiting radiation-induced cellular damage.