The radioprotective effects of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang: a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine.
We evaluated the effect of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine, and its major ingredients on protection of the intestine and hematopoietic organs against radiation damage in this study. The jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were investigated in mice irradiated with high and low doses of gamma-rays. bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang administration before irradiation protected the jejunal crypts (p < 0.0001), increased the formation of the endogenous spleen colony (p < 0.05) and reduced the frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis (p < 0.05). In experiments on the effects of the individual ingredient of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, Rensan (Radix Ginseng), Danggui (Radix Angelicae gigantis), Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) and Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) might have major radioprotective effects, and each might have different degrees of effect on these three endpoints. These results indicated that bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang might be a better agent than any one of its ingredients to satisfy all three endpoints. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively non-toxic natural product. Further studies are needed to better characterize the protective nature of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang extract and its ingredients.
Kim
Sung-Ho
SH
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Kwangju, South Korea.
Lee
Song-Eun
SE
Oh
Heon
H
Kim
Se-Ra
SR
Yee
Sung-Tae
ST
Yu
Young-Beob
YB
Byun
Myung-Woo
MW
Jo
Sung-Kee
SK
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013234:Stem Cells
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; C402943:bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang