Inositol hexaphosphate (IP-6) is a polyphosphorylated
carbohydrate with potent
antioxidant activity to prevent
active oxygen species-mediated
mutagenesis,
cell injury and
carcinogenesis. IP-6 also activates
DNA repair mechanisms. Sublethal
radiation causes
DNA damage through the formation of free radicals,
reactive oxygen species, and
pyrimidine crosslinks leading to cellular proliferation,
cell cycle arrest and
apoptosis. In the
skin it results in the induction of
skin cancer, premature
skin aging, immuno-suppression,
inflammation, and
cell death. Likewise sublethal
exposure to
ionizing radiation as in nuclear blasts (war-time, accidental, terrorist-induced etc), cosmic
radiation, etc. also causes the same spectrum of damage to the cells and the organisms with acute symptoms and eventual high risk of many cancers. IP-6 and / or
inositol and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives, including pyrophosphates and citrate derivatives, significantly counteract the harmful effects of
radiation, affecting
cell cycle progression in a protective manner (more cells in the protective GI phase) as well as decreasing
apoptosis and
caspase-3 activation. Various salts of IP-6 are used with comparable
efficacy and the combination of IP-6+
inositol affords the best protection against radiation-induced
cell injury. Thus IP-6 and
inositol are effective agents for protection against nuclear, solar and other radiation injuries.