Radioprotective effect of Umbelliferon Against Radiation-Induced Myocardial Damages

Radiation at a high dose may attenuate myocardial functions while presenting the therapeutic effect on cancer cells and thus can be life-threatening. Today, many studies reveal that supportive treatments provide important protective effects against acute radiation damage in vital organs including the heart. To our knowledge, the role of umbelliferone in the prevention of radiation damage to the heart has not yet been clarified. Therefore, the current study was planned to evaluate the role of umbelliferone radiation-induced cardiac injury using biochemical and histological data. Rats will be divided into eight different groups as control, radiation and treatment groups. No application was made to the control group. The second group animals were exposed to a single dose (12Gy) radiation throughout the body. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were orally given umbelliferone (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) single dose for 3 days. Groups 6, 7 and 8 received umbelliferone and then radiation was applied. After the experiments, the myocardial tissues of the rats were removed and the protection of the substance against radiation was investigated. Radiation exposure to the rats induced oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological changes and vascular dysfunction in cardiac tissue. Whereas umbelliferone in high dose (100 mg/kg) pretreatment supported the anti-oxidant activity and also reduced the inflammatory response on heart tissue against radiation-associated toxicity. Besides, radiation-induced histopathological changes significantly ameliorated in umbelliferone-treated rat groups. Umbelliferone (100 mg/kg) pretreatment reduced radiation-induced heart damage, which was thought to provide the greatest opportunity for umbelliferone's efficacy as a new drug against the side effects of radiotherapy