Phytochemicals from Lotus Seeds Show Powerful Protection Against Radiation Damage from Medical Imaging
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 01, 2026 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
Medical News: Natural Plant Extract Offers New Hope Against Radiation Damage
Scientists in China have uncovered promising evidence that phytochemicals from lotus seeds may help protect human blood vessel cells from radiation damage. The research focuses on a concentrated alkaloid extract taken from Nelumbinis Plumula, the green embryo found inside lotus seeds, a traditional ingredient long used in Chinese medicine.
Natural lotus seed compounds help shield human blood vessel cells from radiation damage in laboratory studies
This
Medical News report highlights how the plant-based extract showed strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects when human cells were exposed to harmful radiation related stress.
Who Conducted the Research
The study was carried out by researchers from the College of Chemistry and Materials Science at Hebei University in Baoding China and the Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine in Beijing China. Their work explored how natural compounds could reduce cellular damage caused by radiation exposure.
Why Radiation Damage Matters
Radiation is widely used in medicine especially in medical imaging but it can also harm healthy tissues. One of the biggest problems is oxidative stress where unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species attack DNA proteins and cell membranes. This damage is especially dangerous for blood vessel lining cells because it can weaken blood vessels and trigger inflammation.
What Makes Lotus Seed Extract Special
The researchers developed a high purity extract rich in natural alkaloids such as neferine liensinine and isoliensinine. Laboratory tests showed the extract contained more than sixty percent total alkaloids. These compounds are known for their antioxidant properties but their role in radiation protection had not been fully explored before.
How the Study Was Done
Scientists used human umbilical vein endothelial cells which closely resemble the lining of human blood vessels. The cells were exposed to radiation and also to hydrogen peroxide which mimics radiation induced oxidative stress. Some cells were treated with the lotus alkaloid extract before exposure.
The researchers then measured cell survival DNA damage oxidative stress levels and inflammatory markers. They also examined a specific form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis which can worsen tissue injury.
Key Findings Explained Simply
Cells exposed to radiation without protection showed heavy DNA damage high oxidative stress and increased inflammation. Many cells died or lost their normal function.
However, cells pretreated with the lotus alkaloid extract survived at much higher rates. The extract significantly reduced harmful oxygen molecules protected DNA and prevented cell membranes from breaking apart. It also blocked key inflammatory proteins like casp
ase one and gasdermin D which are responsible for triggering pyroptosis.
Importantly the treated cells released far lower levels of inflammatory substances such as IL one beta and IL eighteen which are known to worsen radiation injury.
Why These Results Matter
The findings suggest that the lotus seed extract works in several ways at once. It restores the balance between harmful and protective molecules inside cells reduces inflammation and prevents a dangerous type of cell death. This multi -level protection is especially valuable because radiation injury is complex and affects many biological pathways at the same time.
Study Conclusion
Overall, the research demonstrates that a standardized lotus seed alkaloid extract can strongly protect blood vessel cells from radiation induced damage by reducing oxidative stress inflammation and inflammatory cell death. These results suggest real potential for developing safer plant based protective treatments for people exposed to radiation in medical occupational or accidental settings.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Antioxidants.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/15/1/49
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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