Objective To explore effects of andrographolide on the injury caused by ionizing radiation.

Methods High performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the amount of andrographolide in andrographolide injection and paniculta lactone dropping pill which are commercially available. Two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, cultured in vitro were adopted to study the effects of andrographolide on survival of cells irradiated with γ ray. C57 BL/6 mouse were used to investigate the in vivo effects of andrographis paniculata on irradiation-caused injury.

Results Andrographolide was 0.214 mg/ml and 5.82 mg/pill in andrographolide injection and paniculta lactone dropping pill, respectively. Both andrographolide injection and paniculta lactone dropping pill significantly increased the radiosenstivity of two breast cancer cell lines. Andrographolide injection provided a protective effect on the radiation-caused injury in spleen and hematopoietic system in animals irradiated by 5.0 Gy γ ray. However, both andrographolide injection and paniculta lactone dropping pill decreased survival of mice irradiated with 9.0 Gy γ ray.

Conclusion Andrographis paniculata may provide radiosensitive and radioprotective activities dependent on the irradiation doses.