• 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.