Evaluation of the effect of hesperidin on vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in rat skin animal models following cobalt-60 gamma irradiation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Skin is highly prone to radiation damage. Radiation burn is defined as damage to the skin or other biological tissues induced by radiofrequency or ionizing radiation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binded pro-angiogenic factor. Flavonoids belong to a family of polyphenol chemical compounds that are frequently present in fruits and vegetables. Hesperidin is an agent belonging to the flavonoid family. The aim of this study is to investigate whether hesperidin can affect the VEGF gene expression in rat skin following gamma irradiation or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: . Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene was used as a housekeeping gene. RESULTS: VEGF gene in the radiation + hesperidin group overexpressed 25-fold relative to the control group. In addition, VEGF gene in the radiation group underexpressed 0.15-fold relative to the control group. When the three groups were compared relative to each other using the Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.001 was obtained. Based on the Mann-Whitney U-test, when all groups were compared to each in a binary model, P = 0.001 was achieved. These tests all showed statistically significant changes in VEGF gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that hesperidin is a potent angiogenic factor. Hesperidin as a radioprotector can initiate angiogenesis by VEGF gene induction. It may stimulate epithelialization, collagen deposition, and enhanced cellular proliferation. These changes can together accelerate wound healing, in particular, radiation-induced skin damage.