Abstract
近年來輻射線在農業, 工業, 軍事, 學術研究等方面普遍應用, 尤其在醫 學上常作為治療癌症的利器. 但是輻射線會傷害被照射者的造血器官, 胃腸道及生殖器官等. 對於免疫力亦有很大的抑制作用, 並使人產生噁 心, 嘔吐, 下痢, 疲倦, 肌肉痠痛及白血球降低等症狀, 此即所謂的「輻 射病」. 因此, 如何改善因職業或治療接觸而產生的輻射病是個重要課 題.本研究的主要目的在探討絞股藍(Gynostemma pentaphyllum)及絞股藍 總皂■(gypenosides)對於照過加馬射線鼷鼠細胞性免疫力的影響.本實驗 先把絞股藍煎煮後, 將絞股藍汁液及絞股藍總皂■配成不同濃度, 在照 射銫137加馬射線前10天或後10天連續餵食鼷鼠, 並於照射後第5,15,25, 及35天犧牲動物. 測量體重, 胸腺和脾臟重, 求出相對胸腺重及脾重,並 測其白血球總數和分類計數, 以及脾細胞對mitogen)如PHA, Con A及LPS 的增殖作用(proliferation).實驗結果顯示, 鼷鼠經照射加馬射線後, 胸 腺和脾臟重量明顯下降,白血球總數及其分類計數均減少, 脾細胞對細胞 增殖素的增殖作用降低.而絞股藍能幫助下降的胸腺和脾臟重量, 白血球 總數及其分類計數提前恢復正常, 並能提升脾細胞對PHA, Con A等細胞增 殖素的增殖作用. 絞股藍總皂■亦有助於鼷鼠所受輻射傷害的恢復. 二者 相比, 絞股藍的效果比絞股藍總皂■為佳.綜合本研究的結果可知絞股藍 和絞股藍總皂■對於照射過加馬射線鼷鼠的淋巴器官, 白血球總數及其分 類計數, 以及脾細胞對細胞增殖素的增殖作用能幫助提前恢復. 因此, 絞 股藍和絞股藍總皂■可當作治療輻射病的參考藥物. Recently radiation is applied in agriculture, industry, military, biochemical research and medicine. But radiation is a useful immunosuppressive agent and moderate dose of ionizing radiation has inhibitory effects on the counts of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrocytes and monocytes. Radiation also exerts destructive effects on the leukocytopoietic organs such as spleen, thymus and bone marrow. Therefore, how to prevent damage from radiation is an important matter for those who are making use of radiation. The 137Cs γ-ray irradiated mice treated with Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Gp) or gypenosides (Gs, total saponins of Gp) were investigated in this study. Test mice were treated with Gp of different amount 10 days continuously before or after irradiation . Mice were treated with Gs in the same way as Gp treated.Animals are sacrificed on days 5, 15, 25 and 35 after γ-irradiation. Body weight, thymus and spleen weight, leukocyte and differential counts were measured. The proliferation of splenocytes to mitogen such as PHA, Con A and LPS were also detected. The results showed that thymus and spleen weight, leukocyte and differential counts decreased and proliferation of splenocytes to mitogens repressed in γ-ray-irradiated mice. Gp could help to recover the thymus and spleen weight, leukocyte and its differential counts, and the proliferation of splenocytes to PHA and Con A. Gs also could help mice to recover the damage fromγ- irradiation. Compared Gp with Gs, the effect of Gp was better than Gs in the recovery of radiation damage. Gp and Gs could help thymus and spleen weight, leukocyte and differential counts, and proliferation of splenocytes to mitogens of γ- irradiated mice to recover. Therefore, Gp and Gs could use in the therapy of radiation damages.