芹菜素是一种膳食类黄酮，因其在辐射防护和放射增敏方面的潜在治疗应用而受到越来越多的关注。电离辐射 (IR) 会损害健康细胞，但放射治疗在癌症治疗中仍然至关重要。由于放射治疗在癌症治疗中的显着应用，保护健康细胞免受辐射危害，同时增加癌细胞对辐射的敏感性至关重要。本文回顾了目前对芹菜素辐射防护和辐射敏感性特性的认识，重点关注所涉及的信号通路和关键分子靶点。当暴露于辐射时，芹菜素通过抑制环氧合酶 2 来减少炎症，并调节促凋亡和抗凋亡生物标志物。芹菜素的自由基清除能力和抗氧化增强能力可减轻氧化 DNA 损伤。它抑制辐射诱导的哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶标激活、血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)、基质金属蛋白酶-2 (MMP) 和 STAT3 表达，同时促进 AMPK、自噬和细胞凋亡，这表明其在预防癌症方面具有潜力。作为放射增敏剂，芹菜素通过诱导细胞凋亡、抑制 VEGF-C、肿瘤坏死因子 α 和 STAT3、降低 MMP-2/9 活性和抑制癌细胞葡萄糖摄取来抑制肿瘤生长。细胞和动物研究支持芹菜素的辐射防护和抗癌潜力，使其成为进一步研究的潜在候选者。研究芹菜素对多种癌症类型和辐射损伤的治疗功效至关重要。© 2024 国际生物化学和分子生物学联合会。

Apigenin, a dietary flavonoid, has gained increasing attention for its potential therapeutic applications in radiation protection and radiosensitization. Ionizing radiation (IR) can harm healthy cells, but as radiotherapy remains crucial in cancer treatment. Owing to the remarkable application of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancers, it is vital to protect healthy cells from radiation hazards while increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation. This article reviews the current understanding of apigenin's radioprotective and radiosensitive properties with a focuses on the involved signaling pathways and key molecular targets. When exposed to irradiation, apigenin reduces inflammation via cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition and modulates proapoptotic and antiapoptotic biomarkers. Apigenin's radical scavenging abilities and antioxidant enhancement mitigate oxidative DNA damage. It inhibits radiation-induced mammalian target of rapamycin activation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP), and STAT3 expression, while promoting AMPK, autophagy, and apoptosis, suggesting potential in cancer prevention. As a radiosensitizer, apigenin inhibits tumor growth by inducing apoptosis, suppressing VEGF-C, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and STAT3, reducing MMP-2/9 activity, and inhibiting cancer cell glucose uptake. Cellular and animal studies support apigenin's radioprotective and anticancer potential, making it a potential candidate for further research. Investigation into apigenin's therapeutic efficacy in diverse cancer types and radiation damage is essential.© 2024 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.