• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2001

We performed this study to determine the effect of Baizhu (Atractylodes japonica), Chuanxiong (Cnidium officinale), Shanyao (Discorea japonica) and Shengma (Cimicifuga heracleifolia), as Oriental rhizomata herbs, on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with high and low dose of ${\gamma}$-radiation. Shengma was effective in intestinal crypt survival(p<0.05). The frequency of radiation induced apoptosis was also reduced by pretreatment with Chuanxiong and Shengma(p<0.05). Although the mechanisms of this effort remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that Shengma might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.388-393
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of rutin against whole-body ${\gamma}$-irradiation in BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to 6 Gy ${\gamma}$-irradiation. One hour later, mice were orally administered rutin (50 and 100 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days. ${\gamma}$-Irradiation (6 Gy) resulted in cellular damage as manifested by elevated levels of plasma hepatic marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue, accompanied with decreased spleen and thymus indices, and white blood cell count. In addition, ${\gamma}$-irradiation significantly decreased the levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Rutin treatment significantly protected against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage, which was evident by the improvement in the status of most of the investigated parameters. Therefore, rutin has beneficial effects against radiation-induced damage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.970-974
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• 2015

This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of quercetin against radiation-induced hepatocellular and hematopoiectic damage in BALB/c mice. Mice were exposed to 6 Gy of ${\gamma}$-radiation and orally administered quercetin (25, 50 mg/kg b.w.) for 7 consecutive days. ${\gamma}$-Irradiation caused marked elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, levels as well as reduction of spleen index, thymus index, and the number of white blood cells. In addition, ${\gamma}$-irradiation induced significant elevation of lipid peroxidation as well as reduction of antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. However, post-treatment with quercetin resulted in a significant recovery of all of these parameters. These results suggest that quercetin acts as a potent radioprotector against irradiation-induced cellular damage in mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.657-663
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• 2015

Ionizing radiation induces cell damage through formation of reactive oxygen species. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of post-treatment with hesperetin against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice. Healthy female BALB/c mice were exposed to ${\gamma}$-irradiation and administered hesperetin (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, b.w., orally) for 7 days after 6 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation. Exposure to ${\gamma}$-irradiation resulted in hematopoietic system damage manifested as decreases in spleen indexes and WBC count. In addition, hepatocellular damage characterized by increased levels of aspartate aminoransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in plasma. However, post-irradiation treatment with hesperetin provided significant protection against hematopoietic system damage and decreased AST and ALT levels in plasma. The results indicate that ${\gamma}$-irradiation induced increases in lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase (XO) as well as decreases in antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione (GSH) in the liver. These effects were also attenuated by post-treatment with hesperetin, which decreased lipid peroxidation and XO as well as increased antioxidant enzymes and GSH. These results show that post-treatment with hesperetin offers protection against ${\gamma}$-irradiation-induced tissue damage and oxidative stress and can be developed as an effective radioprotector during radiotherapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.948-957
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• 2016

We previously developed an herbal composition (HemoHIM) based on the water extracts of Angelica gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix to protect and recover hematopoietic and intestinal tissues against radiation injuries. In this study, to develop a composition with improved activities based on enhanced fat-soluble polyphenol contents, we prepared a new herbal composition, MH-30, from the above three herbs by 30% ethanol extraction and hot water extraction. HPLC analysis of the ethanol fractions of MH-30 and HemoHIM revealed that MH-30 had higher contents of many fat-soluble polyphenol compounds than HemoHIM (8.7-fold increase for decursin), whereas contents of water-soluble polyphenol compounds showed little differences between the two compositions. Then, we evaluated MH-30 and HemoHIM for their in vitro antioxidant and immune cell-stimulating activities as well as in vivo protective effects against radiation injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues. In antioxidant activity assays, MH-30 showed higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity than HemoHIM (1.4- to 1.9-fold for compositions and 2.3- to 4.5-fold for ethanol fractions). On the other hand, MH-30 and HemoHIM exhibited similar immune cell-stimulating activities as measured by in vitro lymphocyte proliferation. MH-30 increased endogenous spleen colony formation, decreased bone marrow cell apoptosis, and enhanced survival of intestinal crypts in irradiated mice, demonstrating effective protection of MH-30 against radiation-induced injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues. The 30-day survival rate of lethally irradiated mice, a comprehensive index for radioprotective efficacy, was also elevated by MH-30. Noticeably, MH-30 showed higher protective effects than HemoHIM in all mouse experiments. These results demonstrate that MH-30 can protect hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues against radiation injuries more effectively than HemoHIM. Therefore, MH-30 can be a good candidate to reduce radiation injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues incurred by radiation accidents or cancer radiation therapy.