Molecular hydrogen: A potential radioprotective agent

Highlights

• Summary the underlying mechanism of ionizing radiation and possible choices of radioprotectant.

• Hydrogen works as a scavenger of free radicals, exert anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis effect.

• Hydrogen works as a signal modulator or through regulating gene expression.

• Summary the main delivery methods of hydrogen.

Abstract

In recent years, many studies have shown that hydrogen has therapeutic and preventive effects on various diseases. Its selective antioxidant properties were well noticed. Most of the ionizing radiation-induced damage is caused by hydroxyl radicals (OH) from radiolysis of ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$. Since hydrogen can mitigate such damage through multiple mechanisms, it presents noteworthy potential as a novel radio-protective agent. This review analyses possible mechanisms for hydrogen’s radioprotective properties and effective delivery methods. We also look into details of vitro and vivo studies for hydrogen’s radioprotective effects, and clinical practices. We conclude that hydrogen has good potential in radio-protection, with evidence that warrants greater research efforts in this field.