Opuntia Ficus-indica cladode extract as a natural radio modulator: Protection against cisplatin- and radiation-induced DNA damage with potential applications in vaccine and biomedical research

Title : Opuntia Ficus-indica cladode extract as a natural radio modulator: Protection against cisplatin- and radiation-induced DNA damage with potential applications in vaccine and biomedical research

Abstract:

Background: DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic agents remains a major limitation in biomedical applications, including cancer therapy and vaccine development. Natural compounds with antioxidant properties may provide effective protection against oxidative DNA damage while preserving therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the radiomodulatory activity of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode extract (CCE) against cisplatin- and gamma radiation-induced DNA damage.

Methods: Plasmid pGEM-3Zf(-) DNA was treated with cisplatin in the presence or absence of CCE and exposed to γ-radiation. DNA damage was quantified by agarose gel electrophoresis and lesion-specific enzymatic analysis using Endonuclease III (Nth) and Formamidopyrimidine DNA Glycosylase (Fpg). The radiosensitizing effect of CCE was also evaluated in Escherichia coli by determining D10 values following irradiation.

Results: CCE significantly reduced radiation- and cisplatin-induced genomic damage. Double-strand breaks decreased by 55%, heat-labile lesions by 69.23%, Nth-sensitive clustered lesions by 70.97%, Fpg-sensitive lesions by 66.95%, and combined clustered oxidative lesions by 64.67%. In bacterial assays, CCE enhanced radiation sensitivity, reducing the D10 value from 2.0 kGy to 0.625 kGy, demonstrating a dual radiomodulatory effect.

Conclusions: These findings identify Opuntia ficus-indica cladode extract as a promising natural radiomodulator capable of protecting DNA from oxidative damage while selectively enhancing microbial radiosensitivity. Such dual functionality may have important implications for reducing adverse effects associated with radiation exposure, improving biomedical applications involving nucleic acids, and supporting the development of safer therapeutic and vaccine-related technologies. Further validation in mammalian and in vivo models is warranted.

Biography:

Saloua Kouass Sahbani is an Assistant Professor at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. She holds PhDs in Radiation Sciences and Biomedical Imaging from the University of Sherbrooke and in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Carthage University. Her research focuses on radiation-induced DNA damage, radiosensitization, and radioprotection, with particular interest in natural compounds.