Effects of Red Light Photobiomodulation in Mitigating DNA Induced Damage Caused by Ultraviolet C in Rat Embryonic Fibroblasts

Ayoob H. Obaid (College of Medicine,Al-Nahrain University,Baghdad, Iraq)
Hussain S. Hasan (College of Medicine,Al-Nahrain University,Baghdad, Iraq)
Marwan M. Saleh (College of Applied Sciences,University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq)
Ayoob H. Obaid
Hussain S. Hasan
Marwan M. Saleh (College of Medicine,Al-Nahrain University,Baghdad, Iraq)

Jurnal MIPA dan Pembelajarannya
Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026): March

Ultraviolet C radiation is a potent genotoxic agent that induces DNA strand breaks and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Red light photobiomodulation (PBM), delivered via light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at 633–655 nm, has emerged as a promising non-invasive strategy to stimulate DNA repair. This study investigated and compared the cytoprotective efficacy of red LED irradiation applied after UVC exposure in rat embryonic fibroblast (REF) cells, using the alkaline comet assay as the primary quantitative endpoint. UVC irradiation (10 mJ/cm2) induced a significant increase in medium- and high-damage comets (p < 0.0001) relative to untreated controls. treatment strategy attenuated DNA strand breaks; however, post-irradiation PBM (UV+Red) produced a statistically significant increase in the undamaged-cell population (p = 0.0246), indicating active repair rather than mere damage mitigation. Red LED PBM holds translational potential as a safe and effective phototherapy intervention against UVC-induced genotoxicity.