Protective Effects of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Extract on Hematological System of Mice Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effects of Ligusticum chuanxiong extract on hematological system of ionizing radiation injured mice. METHODS One hundred twenty healthy Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, ionizing radiation group, amifostine group, and Ligusticum chuanxiong extract group(low, medium, high dose aqueous solution). Ligusticum chuanxiong extract was administered intragastrically, and the control drug Amifostine was injected intraperitoneally, other groups were stimulated by intragastrical administration. ⁶⁰Coγ with radiation dose 5.0 Gy was used as radiation source to prepare animal models of radiation injury. Peripheral blood was taken from the orbit of all mice to perform whole blood cell analysis. RESULTS Ionizing radiation could damage mice hematological system and lead to decrease of nucleated cells like white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocyte and so on. The Ligusticum chuanxiong extract could improve such phenomenon. CONCLUSION Ligusticum chuanxiong extract has protective effect on hematological system of ionizing radiation injured mice. The protection mechanism may be related to its antioxidant and immune regulation functions.