Polysaccharide Extracted from Rheum Tanguticum Prevents Irradiation-induced Immune Damage in Mice

Aim: To investigate the protective effect of purified fraction 1 polysaccharide extracted from Rheum tanguticum RTP1 on irradiation-induced immune damage in mice. Methods: Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group (NC), irradiation control group (IC), RTP1 low dose (200 mg/kg), middle dose (400 mg/kg) and high dose (800 mg/kg) groups. RTP1 was adminstered by the gastric route for 14 d, mice in the NC and IC groups being given by 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the same way. The mice in all groups except NC group were irradiated with 2.0 Gy Co-60 gamma-ray on the fourteenth day. Immune indives of non-specific immune function, cellular immunity and humoral immunity were assessed at the 24th hour after radiation. Results: Compared with the IC group, the spleen index, thymus index, rate of carbon clearance, phagocytic function of macrophages, lymphocyte proliferation, hemolysin value of blood serum and NK activity were increased markedly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.05). Conclusion: RTP1 has an obvious protective effects on damage in gamma-ray radiated mice.