Difference in the effects of radioprotection between aerial and root partsof Lycium chinense

Radiation protection from bone marrow death by consecutive injections of cr ude extracts from different parts of Lycium chinense (LC), root (LCR) and a erial part (LCA), before whole body X-irradiation was confirmed by tests wi th ICR strain mice. Both extracts were effective after intraperitoneal inje ction of a high dose, once a day, for seven consecutive days before irradia tion. Based on the studies of endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony format ion (CFUs), and the postirradiation behavior of hematograms and hematocrits , it was demonstrated that the LCR protects mice more effective when given in a dose of 500 mg/kg. Enhanced CFUs was found in the irradiation range of 4-8 Gy by various treatments. Recovery of leukocyte, erythrocyte and throm bocyte counts was significantly stimulated by the extract of LCR with 500 m g/kg administration. Stimulated recovery by the extract from the LCR was al so observed in hematocrit. On the contrary, the extracts of both LCA and LC R did not markedly affect recovery of leukocyte, erythrocyte, thrombocyte c ounts and hematocrits by 250 mg/kg administration. It could be deduced that the uncertainly radioprotective action is induced by a possible process of enhanced regeneration of the hematopoietic stem cells due to either enhanc ed postirradiation repair or an increased proliferation of the hematopoieti c stem cells under the suitable extract administration. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.