The effects of red ginseng extracts(5.5 mg/mouse; i.p.) on the activities of antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) and lipid peroxidation were studied in the cytosol fraction of kidney. The experiments were carried
out
with
whole-body irradiated (6.0Gy, 60 Co) and non-irradiated ICR mice. In the red ginseng extract-treated and irradiated mice, the activities of Cu, Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, catalase and peroxidase were significantly enhanced by 27.8, 31.9, 17.9 and 15.0%,
respectively, but the contents of malondialdehyde were considerably decreased (81.0%) after 21 days, compared with those of non-treated mice. The enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde product
resulted
from
the ionizing radiation. These results suggest that red ginseng extracts probably play an important role in radioprotective effect.
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