Radiation enteritis is an old but emerging question induced by the application 
of radiation. However, no effective drugs for radiation enteritis in clinic. In 
this study, we found that thymoquinone (TQ) could mitigate intestinal damages 
induced by irradiation. After exposure to irradiation, TQ-treated improved the 
irradiated mice survival rate, ameliorated intestinal injury and increased the 
numbers of intestinal crypts. Furthermore, Lgr5+ ISCs and their daughter cells, 
including Vil1+ enterocytes, Ki67+ cells and lysozyme+ Paneth cells, were all 
significantly increased with TQ treatment. In addition, P53, γH2AX, caspase8, 
caspase9 and caspase3 expression were all reduced by TQ. Our data showed that TQ 
modulated DNA damages and decreased the apoptosis in the small intestine. TQ 
might be used for radiation enteritis treatment.