Radioprotective Effect of Apigenin on the Submandibular Gland of Irradiated Rats

Authors : Bekir Büyükçelik, Mustafa Tüz, Özlem Özmen, Yusuf Çağdaş Kumbul, Mehmet Emre Sivrice, Hasan Yasan, Erdoğan Okur, Vural Akın
Pages : 17-28
Doi:10.26650/Tr-ENT.2025.1588521
View : 37 | Download : 51
Publication Date : 2025-03-28
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: We aimed to investigate the radioprotective effects of apigenin on the submandibular gland of rats in this study. Material and Methods: Four experimental groups were composed of 10 rats in each group. Rats in Group 1 were administered radiotherapy solely and administered no drug. Apigenin dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at a dose of 25 mg/kg 48 h before radiotherapy administration to Group 2. In Group 3, only 1.66 ml/kg of DMSO was given intraperitoneally. Group 4 did not receive radiotherapy, and apigenin dissolved in DMSO was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Intraperitoneal drug admin istrations were performed simultaneously in all groups, and all rats were sacrificed 48 h after radiotherapy administration. Existence of necrosis, acinar damage, ductal damage, vacuolisation, and TNFα expression were scored as 0,1,2,3. Results: As a result of the statistical analyses, it was observed that Group 2 was significantly protected compared to Group 1 in terms of necrosis, acinar damage and vacuolisation (p values: 0.004, 0.003, 0.001, respectively). Similarly, TNFα expression was also significantly decreased (p<0.001). In comparisons between Groups 1 and 3, there was no significant difference in terms of necrosis and acinar damage (p values: 0.328, 0.325, respectively), while the difference between the two groups was significant in terms of vacuolisation and TNFα expression (p values: 0.005, 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Apigenin was found to be an effective radioprotectant agent in terms of preventing necrosis, acinar damage and vacuolisation, histopathologically. It has been shown that apigeninDMSO solution decreases TNFα levels, immunohistochemically.
Keywords : Apigenin, Radiotherapy, Submandibular Gland, Xerostomia, Radioprotective Effect

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