Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1991 ; 86 Suppl 2(): 165-7.

The research on radioprotective agents in Chinese materia medica.

Wang BJ.

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

A series of studies has been carried out in the field of traditional medicine for searching radioprotective agents. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, many prescriptions were tested with experimental animals. Some of them could raise the survival rate of dogs irradiated with lethal dose of gamma-rays by 30-40%. Some symptoms of radiation sickness could be improved. More than one thousand kinds of Chinese herbs were screened. Some of them have pronounced radioprotective activities. A series of bioactive components were isolated from these herbs. The mechanism of radiation protection were studied. Having the capability of hemopoietic system and immune system may be the characteristics of these Chinese herbs.