• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.698-704
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• 1999

In this study, we evaluated the radioprotective effects of Kuei Pi Tang and its ingredients, as a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine. The jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were investigated in mice irradiated with high and low dose of ${\gamma}$ rays. In the mice administered with Kuei Pi Tang extract before irradiation, the jejunal crypts were protected significantly(p<0.005) and the frequency of radiation induced apoptosis was reduced(p<0.05). In the experiment on the effects of the ingredients of Kuei Pi Tang, the results indicated that the extract of Dangui(Angelica sinensis), Suanzaoren(Zizyphus valgaris), Rensan (Panax ginseng), Fuling(Poria cocos) and Muxiang(Saussurea lappa) might have a major radioprotective effect. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indi cated that Kuei Pi Tang might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.