Comparative investigations on the protective effects of rhodioside, ciwujianoside-B and astragaloside IV on radiation injuries of the hematopoietic system in mice

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 25; no. 5; pp. 644 - 653
• Main Authors: Li, Yu-Rong, Cao, Wei, Guo, Jun, Miao, Shan, Ding, Gui-Rong, Li, Kang-Chu, Wang, Jin, Guo, Guo-Zhen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-05-2011; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; astragaloside IV; Astragalus membranaceus - chemistry; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - drug effects; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - genetics; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; bone marrow cells; Bone Marrow Cells - drug effects; Bone Marrow Cells - radiation effects; cell cycle; Cell Cycle - drug effects; ciwujianoside-B; DNA; DNA damage; DNA Damage - drug effects; DNA Damage - radiation effects; Eleutherococcus - chemistry; flow cytometry; Gamma Rays - adverse effects; General pharmacology; glycosides; Glycosides - pharmacology; hematopoietic cell; Hematopoietic System - drug effects; Hematopoietic System - radiation effects; irradiation; Leukocytes - drug effects; Leukocytes - radiation effects; lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; radiation; Radiation Injuries, Experimental - mortality; Radiation Injuries, Experimental - prevention & control; radiation injury; Radiation-Protective Agents - pharmacology; Random Allocation; Rhodiola - chemistry; rhodioside; Saponins - pharmacology; spleen; Stem Cells - drug effects; Triterpenes - pharmacology; Western blotting; Whole-Body Irradiation; Steroid; Terpenoid; Pharmacognosy; Rodentia; Cycloartane derivatives; Medicinal plant; Saponin; Prevention; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; hematopoietic cell; radiation; Animal; Plant origin; Triterpene; astragaloside IV; Radiation injury; ciwujianoside-B; rhodioside; Glycoside
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3313

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of three glycosides (rhodioside, ciwujianoside-B and astragaloside IV) on the hematopoietic system in the mice exposed to γ-rays, and to examine the possible mechanisms involved. Mice were pretreated with the glycosides (40 mg/kg, i.g.) daily for 7 days prior to radiation. The survival of mice pretreated with three glycosides after total body irradiation (6.0 Gy) was examined. Peripheral blood leucocytes and endogenous spleen colony counts, colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage assay, analysis of DNA content and apoptosis rate determination were performed to evaluate the effects of the three glycosides on hematogenesis. The fragmentation of double-stranded DNA in lymphocytes was detected by the comet assay. The changes in cell cycle were analysed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were measured by western blot and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results showed that pretreatment with all of the glycosides improved survival time and increased the number of leucocytes, spleen colonies and granulocyte-macrophage colonies in mice exposed to 6.0 Gy γ-radiation. Rhodioside showed more protective efficacy than both ciwujianoside-B and astragaloside IV. All three glycosides significantly increased the proliferation abilities of bone marrow cells, and decreased the ratio of cells in G₀/G₁ phase. Further analysis showed that these three glycosides were able to decrease DNA damage and the increment in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio induced by radiation. In summary, the three glycosides showed radioprotective effects on the hematopoietic system in mice, which was associated with changes in the cell cycle, a reduction in DNA damage, and down-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in bone marrow cells exposed to radiation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.