Medicinally important aromatic plants with radioprotective activity

Aromatic plants are often used as natural medicines because of their remedial and inherent pharmacological properties. Looking into natural resources, particularly products of plant origin, has become an exciting area of research in drug discovery and development. Aromatic plants are mainly exploited for essential oil extraction for applications in industries, for example, in cosmetics, flavoring and fragrance, spices, pesticides, repellents and herbal beverages. Although several medicinal plants have been studied to treat various conventional ailments only a handful studies are available on aromatic plants, especially for radioprotection. Many plant extracts have been reported to contain antioxidants that scavenge free radicals produced due to radiation exposure, thus imparting radioprotective efficacy. The present review focuses on a subset of medicinally important aromatic plants with radioprotective activity. Aromatic plants have been used as natural medicines since prehistoric times. They are currently mainly utilized for essential oil extraction and are widely used in cosmetics, flavoring and fragrance, spices, pesticides, repellent and herbal beverages. Several medicinal plants have shown promise for the treatment various diseases including cancer. However, only a handful studies are available on aromatic plants, especially in terms of radioprotection. The present review focuses on certain medicinally important aromatic plants with special reference to their radioprotective effects.