Intervention of Astragalus membranaceus on radioactive lung injuries and influence on TNF-α and ET expression

Objective: To observe the lung protection of Astragalus membranaceus against radiotherapy to intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm, and its influence on TNF-α and ET expression. Methods: The patients with intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm under radiotherapy were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Patients in the treatment group took 10 ml of Asragalus membranaceus twice a day, for consecutive 6 months from the beginning of radio therapy. TNF-α and ET in the plasma were measured before and after the radiotherapy. The clinical symptom, iconographic changes and lung diffusion were observed from the 15th day of radiotherapy. Results: The TNF-α and ET in plasma after the radiotherapy were (2.48±0.75) ng/ml and (69.32±23.03) pg/ml for the treatment group, and (5.12±1.01) ng/ml and (97.87±37.83) pg/ml for the control group with the statistial difference (χ2=7.49, 6.57, P<0.001). The decrease of CO diffusion 5 and 10 months after the radiotherapy in the treatment group was statistically different compared with that in the control group (χ2=3.98, 3.78, P<0.05). There was a statistical difference of the incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis between these two groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: Astragalus membranaceus could inhibit the excess expression of TNF-α and ET in plasma and reduce the deterioration of diffusion after radiotherapy, so that is can be used for intervention of lung injuries from radiotherapy. (authors)