Herbal pills to beat radiation

Herbal capsules to keep you safe during nuclear attacks. Might sound strange, but Indian life science scientists have made  inroads in making this a reality.

These radioprotectors could safeguard you against gamma radiation during nuclear attacks, explosion or leaks. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the herbal capsules are made out of extracts from two plants  — Podophyllium hexandrum and Hippophae rhamnoides found in central Himalayas.

In an interview to Express, William Selvamurthy, DRDO’s Chief Controller and life sciences head said that the wonder drug is part of a Rs 285 crore-project sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2009. “We have completed the pre-clinical trials of the radioprotectors on rodents at Delhi-based Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences. The clinical trials will now be done by Drugs Controller General of India,” Selvamurthi said.

Developed as part of DRDO’s Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) Defence Technology project, the capsules will be available for use in the next one year. “We will make the capsules available for the quick reaction teams (QRTs), who will be pressed into service first during nuclear attacks or leaks.  Cancer patients exposed to radiotherapy will benefit next and finally those living in areas with high-level radio-active presence,” Selvamurthi said.

When consumed, the herbal capsules act as de-corporating agents, reducing the risks in case a person came in contact with nuke substances.