Progress in Mechanism of Natural Drug Active Ingredients Against Radiation-induced Salivary Gland Damage

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2025.10.003

Abstract

Abstract: As an important treatment for malignant lesions of head and neck, radiotherapy can cause irreversible salivary gland radiation damage, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.Natural medicine has attracted much attention due to its excellent biocompatibility and low toxicity.Studies have shown that these active ingredients regulate cell signaling pathways through multiple pathways such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and protection of cells from oxidative stress damage, alleviating radiation-induced inflammatory response and apoptosis, thereby protecting salivary gland function.This article comprehensively analyzes the latest research on the active components of natural drugs such as phenols, terpenes, polysaccharides, benzophenones, and benzopyrenes, and discusses their mechanisms of action and research progress in preventing radiation-induced salivary gland damage through c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p53 signaling pathways.

Key words: salivary gland, radiation injury, natural medicine, active components, research progress

MA Yushuo, XU Hui. Progress in Mechanism of Natural Drug Active Ingredients Against Radiation-induced Salivary Gland Damage[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2025, 41(10): 844-848.

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