Effect of Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs on apoptosis and anti-oxidative ability of irradiated thymocytes in mice

Objective To study the effect of Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs on anti-oxidative ability and apoptosis of irradiated thymocytes in mice and its mechanisms. Methods A mouse model of in vitro cultured thymocyte injury was induced by 60Co at the dose of 3Gy.Thymocytes were divided into normal control group,60Co model group,and low-,medium-and high-dose Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs groups.Cell activity was detected with MTT method.Superoxide dismutase（SOD） activity and malondialdehyde（MDA） level were measured with enzyme biochemical method following irradiation.Apoptosis of lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry and expressions of bcl-2 and bax protein were detected with immunocytochemical method. Results After the cells were irradiated with 60Co at the dose of 3Gy,the activities of lymphocytes in thymus and SOD in cytoplasm were increased while the MDA level was decreased in mice after treatment with Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs（P＜0.01）.The expression level of bcl-2 was significantly lower while that of Bcl-2 was significantly higher and that of Bax was lower in Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs groups than in 60Co model group（P＜0.01）. Conclusion Decoction of Four Fresh Drugs can increase the activity of in vitro cultured mouse thymocytes,inhibit apoptosis of 60Co-irradiated lymphocytes and improve their anti-oxidative ability by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and regulating the balance between bcl-2 and bax.