Evaluation of radioprotective effect of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in the survival of Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1972) (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) irradiated with 60Co

Abstract

We investigated the presence of natural radioprotectors in food using a new technical modality that utilizes the insect Lasioderma serricorne as a radiosensitivity bioindicator to check radioprotection properties in minimally processed chickpeas. The insects were obtained from the entomological biotherium of the Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environment of CENA-USP. They were fed with an experimental diet and just when the first generation hatched completely, the experiments were conducted. The randomly chosen control diet, consisted of three parts of wheat germ, one part of brewers yeast, and a slice of French bread toasted in an oven previously set up for humidity control. The diet of chickpeas consists only of whole grains crushed in a mechanical grinder to obtain flour. The result was significant for the survival of insects (p<0.0001) reared on a diet of chickpeas compared to those reared on control diet irradiated with gamma rays from 60Co in the range of 5.0 to 1500 Gy. We presented statistical evidence that the chickpea diet has radioprotective properties in the insect for gamma rays.\n\nSUMMARY STATEMENTThe study is important because it shows that chickpea has protective properties against ionizing radiation, how to act against its biological effects and minimize them.