Protective effect of ginseng on radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks and repair in murine lymphocytes

We have examined the effects of ginseng on the induction and repair of γ-ray-induced DNA double strand breaks (dsb) using neutral filter elution technique at pH 9. 6 in cultured murine spleen lymphocytes. Ginseng water extract 500/μg/ml was added to the culture medium either for 48 hours prior to irradiation. Ginseng extract showed protective effect against the formation of dsb when it was treated for 48 hours before 100Gy γ-ray- irradiation. While repair was almost completed until 220. 2 minutes after irradiation, DNA repair of irradiated cells in the presence of ginseng extract was did not return to the corresponding control levels even after 621.8 minutes. From these data, it could be calculated that ginseng reduced the relative strand scission factor (RSSF) by about 2. Therefore, it could be concluded that ginseng has radioprotective effect against γ-ray induced DNA dsb and repair in cultured mouse lymphocytes.