Study On Effects Of Genistein To Prevent Irradiation And Its Mechanism

Soybean isoflavones is a sort of polyphenol compound with various biological effects, such as scavenging the free radicals and antioxidant, prophylaxis and treatmeng of cancer as well as osteoporosis and cadiovascular , weak estrogenic and anti- estrogenic actions, modulating immune functions. An experimental report indicated that it has anti-radiation effect recently. Genistein is one of the most principally component of soybean isoflavones, it is estimate that more than 50 percent of soybean isoflavones in soybean powder is genistein.Genistein has some more potent properties than the others components of soybean isoflavone, for example it is the most potent free radical scavenger and has the most powerful antioxidant capacity in all of the ingredients of soybean isoflavone. We hypothesis the anti-radiation effect of soybean isoflavones is attributed to genistein. The object of this paper is to study the radioprotective effect of genistein and its mechanism, and to provide an experimental basis for the development of genistein.137Cs was used as a radiation source and the mice were exposed to 137Cs γ-rays (4.0Gy and 7.5 Gy) once with the whole body to establish the animal model of acute radiation damge. Genistein was added by different does to the feedstuffs, and its influence on the 30-day survival rate and on the antioxidan. hematogenic and immune system in mice were investigated.The main results of the study are as follows:(1)The appetite and body weight of the mice were not affected by genistein during the two weeks before irradiation.(2)The 30-day survival rate of mice exposed to radiation and genistein was much higher than that of radiated control group, the protection factor reached 1 .44, and their T-AOC were increased in serum thymus and spleen ;and their MDA concentration were decreased in serum thymus . spleen and liver.abstract(3) Blood cell counts ,bone marrow cell number and DNA content of genistein-protected mice were all much higher than those of the radiated control group , the rates of micronuclei of genistein-treated mice were much lower than that of radiated control group.(4)When irradiated with ?-rays,the humoral cellular and non-specific immunity in mice were all decreased. Genistein could facilitate recover all the above indices in the following aspect: lymphocyte stimulation index, delated hypersensitivity, production of antibodies, colony forming units- spleen, and spleen index.The aforesaid experimental results suggested that genistein could enhance the antioxidant ability of body ,ameliorate the functions of hematogenic system, strengthen the immune system, raise survival rate of irradiated mice without obviously side effect. So we can conclude that genistein has anti-radiation property and may be a good radioprotective functional food factor.