RADIATION PROTECTION ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 304-314.

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Study on the protective effect of hesperidin and hesperetin on radiation-induced cardiovascular injury in mice

HU Weixiang1, ZHAO Hongling1, ZHANG Yu2, MA Lanfang3, ZHOU Pingkun1, GUAN Hua1   

  1. 1. Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing 100850;
    2. School of Public Health, University of South China, Hunan Hengyang 421001;
    3. College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Hebei Baoding 071000
  • Received:2023-11-26 Online:2024-05-20 Published:2024-05-24

Abstract: This study investigates the protective effects of hesperidin and hesperetin on radiation-induced cardiovascular injury in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a blank control group (NC group), an irradiated control group (IR group), a hesperidin low-dose group (L group, 200 mg/kg), a hesperidin medium-dose group (M group, 400 mg/kg), a hesperidin high-dose group (H group, 800 mg/kg), a hesperetin low-dose group (L group, 50 mg/kg), a hesperetin medium-dose group (M group, 100 mg/kg), and a hesperetin high-dose group (H group, 200 mg/kg). Two hours before irradiation, the blank control group and the irradiated control group were given an equal amount of solvent by gavage method. Except for the blank control group, all groups of mice were exposed to a single dose of 2 Gy of 60Co γ-ray irradiation. At 24 h and 48 h after irradiation, indices related to immunity, antioxidant capacity, and DNA damage in the mice were measured. The results showed that compared with the irradiated group, the liver index of the mice given hesperidin and hesperetin was significantly reduced, without a clear dose-effect relationship, indicating that hesperidin and hesperetin may have a certain protective effect on the organs of irradiated mice. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum of mice given hesperidin and hesperetin were significantly decreased and showed a dose-effect relationship, with the high-dose groups being more prominent. The administration of hesperidin and hesperetin significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the aorta of the mice, indicating that both treatments have significant antioxidant effects. The administration of hesperidin and hesperetin reduced the number of γ-H2AX foci in the aortic tissue after irradiation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that both treatments can alleviate the DNA damage in the mouse aorta after irradiation. The results of this study suggest that hesperidin and hesperetin have a certain protective effect against radiation-induced vascular damage in mice, and the possibility of their development as health supplements requires further exploration.

Key words: hesperidin, hesperetin, ionizing radiation, DNA damage, radiation protection

CLC Number: 

  • Q691.5