title: In Vivo radioprotective effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and identification of active ginsenosides.
abstract: This study evaluated the effect of water extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (PG), panaxadiol (PD), panaxatriol (PT), ginsenoside Rb(1), Rb(2), Rc, Rd, Re and Rg(1) on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells in gamma-irradiated mice. Jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment with PG, Rc and Rd. Administration of PG, PD, Rd and Re prior to irradiation resulted in an increase in the formation of endogenous spleen colonies. The frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by pretreatment with PG, PD, Rb(2), Rc, Rd, Re and Rg(1). In experiments on the effects of the individual ginsenosides, the rank order of activity was Rc > Rd > Rg(1) > Rb(2) > Re > Rb(1) on intestinal crypt survival assay, Re > Rb(2) > Rd > Rg(1) > Rb(1) > Rc on the spleen colony formation assay, and Rg(1) > Re > Rd > Rc > Rb(2) > Rb(1) on inhibiting the death of cells caused by apoptosis. The results indicated that Rc, Rd and Re may have a major radioprotective effect in mice irradiated with high and low doses of radiation. When the same experiments were performed using PD and PT, it was observed that most of the inhibitory effects came from PD rather than PT.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae June
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se Ra
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yun Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Kee
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Tae Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Seung Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents