Experimental study on anti-radiation effectiveness of astragalus total flavonoids

The anti-radiation effectiveness of total flavonoids of astragalus mongholicus Bunge (TFA) has been studied with the model of intraoperative radiotherapy of imitative lung cancer. The results showed that some tissues have been protected from damage by intravenous administration of TFA before radiotherapy. The malonyldialdebyde concentration decreased in tissue homogenate, while the superoxide dismutase activity did not fall. The results also show that the intraoperative radiotherapy may generate a large number of free radicals, which induce tissue and cell damage not only at the place of direct irradiation, but also at the remote places. It is suggested that the TFA has the effect of anti-radiation. The mechanism may be related to TFA properties such as anti-oxidation and scavenging of free radicals