Protective effects of qi-tonifying toxin-removing Chinese medicinals against acute radiation injury

Objective Qi-tonifying toxin-removing Chinese medicinals can tonify qi and remove toxin.This research studied its protective effects against acute radiation injury in mice. Methods There were six groups,including blank group,model group,high dose group of qi-tonifying toxin-removing Chinese medicinals,low dose group of qi-tonifying toxin-removing Chinese medicinals,amifostine group,and anduolin group. All of the above groups were administered for 14 days. At day 14 after drug administration,all groups of mice,except the blank group,were given 4 Gy60 Co gamma ray for total body irradiation to induce acute radiation injury. At day 3,7,and 14 after irradiation,the mice's white blood cell count,thymus index,spleen index,spleen pathological section,the ratio of CD4+/ CD8+T lymphocyte of peripheral blood,SOD activity and MDA content of liver were examined respectively. Results After gamma ray irradiation in the model group,a significant reduction in white blood cell count were detected.Immune organ index of model group mice decreased significantly. There were also significant pathologicalchanges in the spleen,and marked increase of CD4+/ CD8+ratio,indicating impaired immunity. SOD activity decreased while MDA content increased significantly. At day 7 after irradiation,SOD activity and MDA content returned to normal level; At day 14 after irradiation,the spleen index returned to normal level. Compared with the model group,the spleen pathological changes of treatment groups were less severe. At day 3 after irradiation,the activity of SOD in liver of low dose group was significantly enhanced( p 0. 01); hepatic MDA content significantly decreased( p 0. 05). At day 7 after irradiation,the spleen index in low dose group and high dose group mice significantly increased( p 0. 05),and the ratio of CD4+/ CD8+T lymphocyte in peripheral blood of low dose group significantly reduced( p 0. 05); At day 14 after irradiation,thymus index of low dose group significantly increased( p 0. 05). Conclusion Low dose of formula has protective effects against sublethal doses of gamma ray induced acute radiation injury in mice.