Radioprotective Effect of Red Ginseng in Irradiated Mice with High and Low Dose of Radiation

고선량 및 저선량 방사선 피폭에 대한 홍삼의 방사선 방호효과

Studies were performed to determine the effect of Korean red ginseng (extract powder, spray-dried), it is made of choice 6-year-old raw ginseng roots, and processed by steaming and drying, on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of irradiated mice. Jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment of red ginseng (1 mg/head, single I.P. at 24hours before irradiation, p<0.05). Red ginseng administration before irradiation (1 mg/head, single I.P at 24hours before irradiation) resulted in an increase of the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.05). The frequency of radiation-Induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by treatment of red ginseng both pretreatment (P.O.: 2 mg/ml of drinking water for 7 days, p<0.005, I.P.: 1 mg/head, single I.P. at 24 hours before irradiation, p<0.005) and post-treatment (1 mg/head, single I.P at 30 minutes after irradiation, p<0.05). These results indicated that Korean red ginseng might be a useful radio-protector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product. Further studies are needed to characterize better the promotion nature of red ginseng and its fractions.