title: In vivo radioprotective activity of Panax ginseng and diethyldithiocarbamate.
abstract: Studies were performed to determine whether the water fraction and the alkaloid fraction of Panax ginseng protect against radiation damage to jejunal crypts of N:GP(s) mice and induction of micronuclei (MN) in cytokinesis-blocked (CB) lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice after in vivo irradiation with 60Co gamma-rays. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the effect of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC). Jejunum was protected by the water fraction (2 mg/ml of drinking water) (P < 0.001) and the alkaloid fraction (5.4 mg/day, P.O.) (P < 0.005), both pre-and post-treatment, and by DDC (1000 mg/kg B.W., single I.P., 30 minutes before 15 Gy irradiation) (P < 0.001). The frequency of radiation (3 Gy)-induced micronuclei in spleen lymphocytes was also reduced by pretreatment of water fraction, alkaloid fraction of ginseng (P < 0.025) and DDC (P < 0.001). The data suggested that the water fraction and alkaloid fraction of Panax ginseng may reduce cell damage caused by gamma-rays, especially damage to DNA molecules, and play a role in the repair or regeneration process of damaged cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radiation Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004050:Ditiocarb / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D014867:Water; D004050:Ditiocarb