Protective effects of Chinese herbs on D-galactose-induced oxidative damage

Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Jul-Aug;25(6):447-52. doi: 10.1358/mf.2003.25.6.769650.

Abstract

A mixture of traditional Chinese herbs ('FTDA') was found to improve several oxidation-related biomarkers in D-galactose-induced mimetic aging mice. FTDA consists of seven herbal components: Cuscutae Semen, Schisandrae Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Lonicerae Flos, Nelumbinis Semen, Angelica Radix and Poria, and is routinely used for treating mice with D-galactose-induced oxidative damage. Measurements of antioxidant status, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant status (TAS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were made on blood, brain and liver tissue collected from animals after 60 days of treatment with D-galactose subcutaneous injections. High-dose, medium-dose and control groups exhibited higher levels of SOD, GSH-Px and TAS in their blood, as well as lower levels of serum MDA activity, compared with the D-galactose group. In the liver, all three experimental and PBS groups demonstrated significant increases in SOD activity and a decrease in MDA activity. The MDA activity decreased in medium-dose, high-dose and PBS groups, while medium-dose and PBS groups demonstrated increased SOD activity compared with that seen in the brain. These results support the efficacy of FTDA in improving the antioxidant status of D-galactose-induced mimetic aging mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Galactose / toxicity*
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Galactose