Radioprotective effect of catechines against radiation injury in mice

Objective To study the radioprotective effect of catechines against radiation injury in mice.Methods Catechines were administered in mice intragastrically at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days before whole body irradiation with 6 Gy X-rays.The body weight changes,survival time,30-day survival rate,and counts of peripheral white blood cells were recorded.Results The mice with catechine pre-treatment before X-ray exposure suffered less body weight loss than those without the treatment before exposure.Catechines markedly increased the survival time of the irradiated mice,and raised the 30-d survival rate of the irradiated mice to 53.33% as compared with the rate of 13.33% in the radiated mice without catechine pre-treatment.Catechines significantly promoted recovery of peripheral white blood cells.Conclusion Catechines have definite radioprotective effect against radiation injury in mice.