Radioprotective effects of quercetin and curcumin on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male albino rats

Abstract

Ionizing radiation can cause significant harm to living tissues, prompting researchers to explore compounds with radioprotective potential to reduce side effects in radiotherapy patients. This study evaluated the protective effects of curcumin and quercetin, both individually and in combination, against γ-radiation-induced histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biophysical alterations in rats. The experimental design involved seven groups: control, curcumin-treated, quercetin-treated, γ-irradiated (8 Gy fractionated dose), curcumin-pretreated irradiated, quercetin-pretreated irradiated, and curcumin–quercetin-pretreated irradiated. γ-Radiation exposure led to pronounced liver and kidney damage, whereas pretreatment with curcumin and/or quercetin mitigated these injuries. The protective effects were linked to antioxidant activity, downregulation of p53 and TNF-α expression, and maintenance of tissue structural integrity as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Importantly, the combination of curcumin and quercetin demonstrated superior radioprotection compared to either agent alone.