• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 1996

Studies were Performed to determine whether the water fraction of Panax ginseng Protected radiation damage to hair medullar cells of N:GP(s) mice after in vivo irradiation with $^{60}Co{\;}{\gamma}-rays$. The hair follicles in the middle of the growth cycle were analysed 3 days after 3 Gy irradiation for the changes in the number of cells in the forming medulla of the hair in the region just above the germinal matrix of the growing (anagen) hair follicle. The radioprotective effect of ginseng was compared with the irradiation control. The medullar cell count per unit length ($100{\;}\mu\textrm{m}$) of hair follicle was higher in the pretreated-groups of ginseng, both oral (2 mg/ml of drinking water, p<0.05) and intraperitoneal (0.3 mg/head, p<0.001) treatments, than the irradiation control. These data suggested that the water fraction of Panax ginseng may reduce cell damages on the body surface caused by ${\gamma}-rays$.