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A ginseng protein fraction which has been reported to have radiation protective effect was purified from Korean ginseng and its effects on relative survival and chromosome aberration were studied in UV irradiated CHO-K1 cells. When the protein fraction (100mcg/ml) was added to the cells before UV irradiation at 4J/m2, the survival rates were increased to 53.8% from 40.6% in control. Addition of the protein (100mcg/ml) after UV irradiation at 4 and 8J/m2 raised the rates to 85.4 and 24.0% from 79.2 and 11.5% in control, respectively. When the ginseng protein (800mcg/ml) was added to the cells exposed to UV light at 10, 20, 30J/m2, the frequencies of chromosome aberration (CA) were reduced significantly to almost same level regardless of the UV dose increment and there was no significant difference between pre- and post-treatment. When the concentration of ginseng protein was increased from 200 to 800mcg/ml, at UV dose of 10, 20, 30J/m2, each, the CA frequencies were decreased consistently as the dose of ginseng protein increased, at all UV doses tested. Similar effects were observed in both cases of pre- and post-treatment. The data suggest that the protein may reduce cell damage caused by UV light, especially damage to DNA molecule, or play a role in repair processes of damaged DNA, to increase cell survival and reduce chromosome aberrations.
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