Restoration of radiation injury by ginseng. IV. Stimulation of recoveries in CFUs and megakaryocyte counts related to the prevention of occult blood appearance in X-irradiated mice.

Abstract

A single post-irradiation injection of the thermostable fraction of a ginseng extract enhanced the recoveries of the numbers of both blood-forming stem cells (10 days CFUs) and megakaryocytes in bone marrow of irradiated mice. It also protected hemorrhaging tendency of X-irradiated mice determined by a quantitative measurement of occult blood appearance in daily feces. The present study and our previous findings suggest that ginseng protected the irradiated animals from bone marrow death by stimulating thrombopoietic hematogenesis (CFUs, megakaryocytes and thrombocytes) and finally preventing hemorrhage.