{"title":"Mechanistic and kinetic insights into the radical scavenging capacity and Keap1-Nrf2 inhibition potency of A-type avenanthramides: DFT and molecular docking.","authors":"Jiayi Li, Guirong Wang, Zhennan Zhang, Shuang Jin, Fengwei Ai, Lin An, Haiyang Zhong, Ling Zhang, Youguang Zheng, Hongli Liu, Yunsheng Xue","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2625091","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2625091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Avenanthramides (AVAs), unique polyphenols in oats, have received much attention due to their biologically beneficial properties. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular docking were performed to elucidate the structure-antioxidant capacity relationship and underlying mechanism of A-type AVAs under physiological conditions. Further, the interaction effects between AVAs and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) for activating the Nrf2-ARE (nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element) signaling pathway were explored. The results showed that the representative A-type AVA <b>2 c<sub>d</sub></b> displayed excellent HOO<sup>•</sup> scavenging capacity in water at physiological pH with an overall rate constant (<i>k</i><sub>overall</sub> = 2.97 × 10<sup>7</sup> M<sup>-1</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>) higher than that of reference antioxidants Trolox and BHT, while moderate capacity in lipid-like media. Formal hydrogen atom transfer (fHAT) mechanism is more favored in lipid media, whereas in aqueous solution at physiological pH, the hydrogen transfer from dianion species plays a dominant role (99.4%) in the overall reactivity. The results also highlighted the effects of central double bond, hydroxyl, carboxyl and solvents in antiradical processes. Molecular docking and DFT calculations showed that <b>2c</b> and <b>2 c<sub>d</sub></b> can bind strongly to Keap1 through hydrogen bonding and cysteine residues based covalent binding, which disrupts the Keap1-Nrf2 interaction. Collectively, <b>2c</b> and <b>2 c<sub>d</sub></b> are promising candidates as multifunctional antioxidant with radical trapping and Nrf2 activation effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"91-105"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146124297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Free Radical ResearchPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2025.2610944
Zhuo Qu, Yan Ding, Lei Zhang, Jiachen Sun, Tianyuan Wang, Chunlin Zhuang
{"title":"6-Gingerol alleviates NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis by boosting antioxidation and reducing inflammation.","authors":"Zhuo Qu, Yan Ding, Lei Zhang, Jiachen Sun, Tianyuan Wang, Chunlin Zhuang","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2610944","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2610944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With lung cancer rates climbing steadily, the development of effective prevention strategies has become more crucial than ever. Our previous research has revealed that ginger oil possesses potential lung cancer preventive activity, demonstrating inhibitory effects against tobacco carcinogen 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung cancer in A/J mice. 6-Gingerol, a bioactive compound from ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i> Rosc.), exhibits multiple pharmacological activities. However, the preventive efficacy of 6-Gingerol against tobacco carcinogen-induced lung cancer remains unclear. This study investigated the chemopreventive effects of 6-Gingerol on NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice and Beas-2b cells. Results indicated that 6-Gingerol significantly reduced lung tumor count and improved tissue structure compared to NNK alone. <i>In vitro</i>, 6-Gingerol protected Beas-2b cells from NNK-induced damage. Mechanistically, 6-Gingerol activated the Nrf2 pathway, enhancing antioxidant enzyme expression and reducing oxidative stress. Additionally, 6-Gingerol exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the NNK-activated TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, 6-Gingerol shows significant chemopreventive effects against NNK-induced lung cancer <i>via</i> activating Nrf2 and suppressing TLR4/NF-κB, underscoring its potential as a preventive agent functional food in lung cancer development.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145849166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Electrochemical and spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant properties in <i>Asphodelus tenuifolius</i> Cav. extracts.","authors":"Imane Guediri, Meriem Henni, Aicha Adaika, Stefania Garzoli, Salah Neghmouche Nacer","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2610955","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2610955","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the antioxidant potential of <i>Asphodelus tenuifolius</i> Cav. From El-Oued region of southeastern Algeria, through a combined spectrophotometric, electrochemical, and chromatographic approach. A hydroethanolic crude extract was fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). HPLC profiling identified and quantified nine major phenolic compounds, with quercetin dominating the chloroform fraction at exceptionally high levels alongside significant amounts of chlorogenic acid and naringin. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using complementary assays. The chloroform fraction exhibited the highest total phenolic content and flavonoid content, correlating with its potent radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. In contrast, electrochemical analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction was most effective against the superoxide anion (O<sub>2</sub>•<sup>-</sup>), with the lowest IC<sub>50</sub> value. Thermodynamic parameters further confirmed spontaneous and energetically favorable interactions between extract constituents and O<sub>2</sub>•<sup>-</sup> radicals, underscoring the mechanistic plausibility of the observed effects. To the best of our knowledge, this work delivers the first integrated electrochemical and chromatographic evidence of the antioxidant potential of <i>A. tenuifolius</i> extracts. By establishing clear correlations between phytochemical composition and functional outcomes, the study positions this species as a promising source of high-value bioactive compounds for several applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"16-27"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145849162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a radioiodinated boronic acid probe for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite.","authors":"Risa Azuma, Toshihide Yamasaki, Kohei Sano, Takahiro Mukai","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2617613","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2617613","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite play important roles as signaling molecules to maintain the biological functions; however, excess levels of these oxidants are associated with various diseases. Despite their important roles <i>in vivo</i>, effective methods to measure these oxidants in the body with high sensitivity have not yet been established. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to design a radioiodinated boronic acid probe for the <i>in vivo</i> detection of hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. The probe contained boronic acid, a well-known substructure that reacts with hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite, at positions 3 and 6 of the xanthene moiety and radioiodine at the phthalide moiety of fluorescein. I-125 labeling was successful, resulting in a radiochemical yield of 60% and radiochemical purity of >95%. <i>In vitro</i> selectivity studies demonstrated that the probe showed significant responses to both hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite while exhibiting minimal reactivity toward other reactive oxygen species including superoxide, nitric oxide, and peroxy radicals. In biodistribution studies using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice generating reactive oxidants, the boronic acid probe was significantly accumulated in various organs damaged by LPS. However, this phenomenon was inhibited by administration of the antioxidant, <i>N</i>-acetylcysteine, to LPS-treated mice. These results highlight the potential of the developed radioiodinated boronic acid probe to detect hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite in living organisms, suggesting it as a candidate for the <i>in vivo</i> detection and functional evaluation of these oxidants in various diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"28-38"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spermidine diminishes lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial ferroptosis through the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.","authors":"Jun He, Xiaohong Zhang, Hongxin Jiang, Zhaoyu Liu, Yuwen Dai, Pin Zhao, Jianke Kuai","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2620031","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2620031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spermidine (SPD) is a naturally-occurring polyamine with a range of unique properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardioprotective effects. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death that is regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a pivotal role in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. However, the interplay among spermidine levels, septic myocardial injury, and ferroptosis is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of spermidine on ferroptosis and the underlying mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute myocardial damage during sepsis. A septic myocardial injury model was established using LPS treatment of H9c2 cells and C57BL/6 mice. Spermidine mitigated LPS-induced myocardial injury, decreased inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, and inhibited cardiomyocyte ferroptosis in both cellular and animal models. Spermidine reduced intracellular iron and malondialdehyde levels, while elevating glutathione levels and the expression of cardiac ferroptosis-related proteins. SPD was found to suppress lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis by activating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Silencing Nrf2 ceased the inhibitory effect of SPD on ferroptosis in H9c2 cells. Spermidine exerted a protective effect against LPS-induced acute myocardial injury and may ameliorate LPS-induced septic myocardial ferroptosis <i>via</i> the Nrf2 pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"50-66"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145997812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Free Radical ResearchPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2026.2620638
Neha Yadav, Rishita Singh, Santosh Kumar Mondal, Amit Kumar Mandal
{"title":"Molecular insights of p-benzoquinone-induced red blood cell dysfunction: probable implications to cigarette smoke-associated pathologies.","authors":"Neha Yadav, Rishita Singh, Santosh Kumar Mondal, Amit Kumar Mandal","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2620638","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2026.2620638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cigarette smoke (CS) is a complex mixture of numerous chemicals, including p-benzosemiquinone (pBSQ), which oxidizes to p-benzoquinone (pBQ) in the lungs of smokers and enters circulation. Despite its high reactivity, the direct impact of pBQ on human red blood cells (RBC) remains underexplored. Herein, we investigated the molecular insights into how pBQ compromises human RBC physiology and its role in mediating CS-associated pathologies by integrating redox biochemistry, membrane integrity, and omics-based approaches. Our findings reveal that pBQ disrupted redox homeostasis, evidenced by glutathione depletion, elevated reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity. pBQ also triggered methemoglobin formation, hemoglobin aggregation, and reduced oxygen-binding capacity. Biophysical analysis of RBCs revealed reduced membrane fluidity, alterations in membrane proteins and lipids, disrupted zeta potential, and sedimentation dynamics, suggesting altered deformability, an indication of impaired microvascular transit. Untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics profiling revealed metabolic reprogramming and remodeling of the membrane lipids. Depletion of polyunsaturated fatty acids alongside accumulation of saturated species in the membrane points toward membrane stiffening. Pathway analysis highlighted perturbations in fatty acid biosynthesis and redox homeostasis. Disease enrichment analysis linked these changes to hypertension and other pathologies that are previously linked to redox imbalance and CS exposure. Notably, NAC co-treatment mitigated these effects, preserving RBC integrity and redox homeostasis. These findings underscore that pBQ is a critical mediator of CS-induced RBC dysfunction and establish a mechanistic link to its contribution to smoking-associated complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"67-90"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146029061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Free Radical ResearchPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2025.2592016
Yuqing Qi, Zhen Li, Qun Zuo
{"title":"Peroxiredoxins: regulatory roles and potential clinical significances in breast cancer.","authors":"Yuqing Qi, Zhen Li, Qun Zuo","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2592016","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2592016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer (BC) is among the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women, with a persistently high mortality rate. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly contribute to BC progression by damaging cellular components and activating oncogenic signaling pathways. <b>Peroxiredoxins (Prdxs), a crucial class of antioxidant enzymes, regulate cellular redox homeostasis and play dual roles in cancer development and progression.</b> Substantial progress has been achieved in studying Prdxs in cancers such as cervical cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and lung cancer; <b>however, a comprehensive understanding of roles for Prdxs in BC remains lacking.</b> This paper reviews the differential expression and functional characteristics of Prdxs across various molecular subtypes of BC, with a particular focus on <b>triple-negative BC.</b> Moreover, aberrant Prdxs expression is strongly associated with poor prognosis, chemoresistance, and <b>increased invasiveness in BC patients.</b> Given the pivotal roles of Prdxs in BC, investigating therapeutic strategies targeting Prdxs and related ROS levels is imperative. Additionally, combining such approaches with immunotherapy highlights the potential implication of Prdxs in precision cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"783-796"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145548851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Radiation-induced transformation of peptides into nanoparticles for nano-theranostics of pancreatic cancer with controllable drug delivery and sustained release.","authors":"Atsushi Kimura, Hiroki Hamaguchi, Kotaro Oyama, Chaozhong Tian, Shinichi Yamashita, Mitsumasa Taguchi","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2580607","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2580607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nano-theranostics using biodegradable polymers are effective for the diagnosis and treatment of intractable cancers; however, there is a need for technology that controls bioavailability and biodegradability without compromising biocompatibility. In this study, peptide nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled particle size and biodegradability were prepared by ionizing radiation and loaded with imaging agents and anticancer drugs to develop novel nano-theranostics for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment. Peptides composed of histidine, glycine, glutamic acid, and an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid motif were synthesized by the solid-phase synthesis method. Their aqueous solutions were irradiated with γ-rays to produce NPs with a particle size of less than 50 nm, enabling penetration of the pancreatic cancer stroma. The radiation crosslinking of peptides, with or without the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid motif, in water was investigated by pulse radiolysis. Peptide NPs loaded with fluorescent labeling or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents were efficiently taken up by pancreatic cancer cells. Cisplatin-loaded peptide NPs produced by higher-dose irradiation suppress drug-release rates owing to their lower biodegradability. In conclusion, peptide NPs with controllable particle size and biodegradability were produced by ionizing radiation and loaded with fluorescent labeling agents, MRI agents, and anticancer drugs to develop a new nano-theranostics drug for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"769-782"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Free Radical ResearchPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-10-07DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2025.2526057
Tana Takacova, Markus Anton Schirmer
{"title":"Impact of genetic variability on NADPH oxidase activity: an extensive genotype-phenotype assessment.","authors":"Tana Takacova, Markus Anton Schirmer","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2526057","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2526057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Oxidative stress is implicated in various diseases, and the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex (NOX) is a significant source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Research linking genetic polymorphisms to enzyme activity has produced conflicting results. <b>Methods:</b> We aimed to establish a robust protocol to assess NOX activity <i>in vitro</i> under highly standardized conditions and correlate these measurements with genetic polymorphisms catalogued by the 1000 Human Genome Project and the HapMap Project. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) served as a model system with samples from healthy participants from three Caucasian populations. NOX activity stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was measured using chemiluminescence in 290 LCLs (198 in a training and 92 in a test set) through a series of multiply repeated measurements per LCL comprising in total over 1,500 NOX activity assessments. The association between NOX activity and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOX subunit genes <i>CYBA</i>, <i>CYBB</i>, <i>NCF1</i>, <i>NCF2</i>, and <i>NCF4</i> was subsequently examined. <b>Results:</b> Out of 651 valid polymorphic markers, 308 had a minor allele frequency of ≥ 5%, and 15 SNPs showed a statistically significant correlation with NOX activity in the training set. However, these 15 associations were not confirmed in the test set (all <i>p</i> ≥ 0.1). Additional analyses treating all 290 LCLs as a single cohort yielded three associations at <i>p</i> < 0.01, i.e. <i>CYBA</i> rs1017828, <i>NCF1</i> rs191081238, and <i>NCF4</i> rs4821544. However, statistical significance could not be called for any of these genetic markers upon adjustment for multiple testing, regardless whether a co-dominant, dominant or recessive allelic effect was assumed. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our results do not support a reproducible impact of common genetic diversity in NOX subunits on the enzyme activity in LCLs of subjects of Caucasian origin. This study represents the largest evaluation concerning relationships between NOX genetic variants and enzyme activity to date.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"707-715"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144527088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Free Radical ResearchPub Date : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-10-21DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2025.2568922
Raghavendra S Patwardhan, Deepak Sharma, Santosh K Sandur
{"title":"Antioxidant flavonoid baicalein as a dual purpose radiomodifier with promising bench to bedside potential.","authors":"Raghavendra S Patwardhan, Deepak Sharma, Santosh K Sandur","doi":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2568922","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10715762.2025.2568922","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite the potential of drug-radiotherapy combinations, a limited number of oncology drugs are approved by FDA for use along with radiotherapy. Currently, there is no agent available in the clinic that can exhibit dual radiomodifying behavior. Despite availability of sophisticated, high-precision techniques in radiotherapy for accurate targeting of tumors, normal tissue toxicity impedes its use in curative settings. Combining radiotherapy with an agent that can protect normal tissue and augment tumor killing can improve therapy outcomes. Other than combining drugs for therapeutic radiation exposure, there is a pressing need of identifying agents for management of unwanted effects of accidental radiation exposure. There is a serious deficit in the repertoire of currently available safe and effective radiation countermeasures. Baicalein, a bioactive component from the roots of traditional Chinese medicinal herb <i>Scutellaria baicalensis</i> has been shown to protect against acute as well as chronic effects of radiation exposure including normal tissue injury to lungs, gut, hematopoietic system, intestine, endothelial and neuronal cells by us and other labs worldwide. Further, administration of baicalein alone or in combination with other agents prevents radiation-induced mortality in mice. Additionally, numerous studies have reported radiosensitizing potential of baicalein in lung, breast, esophageal, cervical and prostate cancer. Moreover, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of baicalein is well established in healthy human subjects. Here we provide a succinct overview of the distinctive radiomodifying potential of baicalein, safety, pharmacology underscoring its utility as a prospective radiomodifier in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12411,"journal":{"name":"Free Radical Research","volume":" ","pages":"734-757"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145291799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}