Sodium Salicylate Reduces Lipid Peroxidation During Radiation-Induced Oxidative Injury in the Rat Liver

Radiation therapy is used for cancer treatment, but there are some side effects such as oxidative damage. Sodium salicylate, an anti-inflammatory drug, plays a role in the reduction of oxidative damage. We investigated the antioxidant role of sodium salicylate against gamma-radiation-induced oxidative damage in liver tissue after whole-body irradiation with a single dose of 5 Gy. Twenty adult rats were divided into four equal groups. On the day of the experiment, groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were treated orally with 200 ㎎/㎏ sodium salicylate, while groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ received distilled water. One hour later, groups Ⅱ and Ⅳ were exposed to 5 Gy whole-body ionizing radiation in a single fraction. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TSARS) in the liver ware measured in all groups, 4 hours after their exposure to radiation. Whole-body radiation significantly increased TSARS level in the liver, while sodium salicylate significantly reduced hepatic TSARS level in irradiated rats. Furthermore, radiation injury induced Kupffer cell activation, while sodium salicylate significantly inhibited Kupffer cell activation in irradiated rats. The data obtained in this study suggest that sodium salicylate administration prior to irradiation may prevent liver damage by radiation.