Experimental Research Into The Mechanism Delaying The Brain Aging Process By Angelica Pubescens And Its Alcohol Extractive

According to TCM theory, it has been regarded that when one is middle-aged, the vigour and the essence of life will be gradually deficient, that this can lead to malnourishment of the brain and a waning of mental vigor. The brain will also fail to function because of stagnation of qi, retention of phlegm and fluid and blood stasis. Brain senescense will result from all of these factors. Objective: Angelica pubescens is a top grade Chinese herb. It smells strong, with an overflowing aroma. It has the functions of dispelling wind-dampness, promoting all channel circulations, making the body fit and prolonging life. Preliminary study indicated that Angelica pubescens can decrease the lipid peroxide, increase the antioxidase activity and reduce the aging index of membrane. On the basis of this, also from the idea of wholism in 1CM and basing on the free radical and inflammation theory on senescense, this study further researches the mechanism delaying the brain aging process by Angelica pubescens and its extractive. It produces a new theory and method for postponing the aging process with traditional Chinese medicine, and provides a scientific experimental basis for developing and making new anti-aging medicine with precise and exact curative effects. Method: The main content of this study: 1. Choosing 50 Kunming mice of 10-month old were randomly divided into 5 groups(l0 for each): normal control group, model control group, Angelica low dose group, Angelica high dose group and Angelica extractive group. The sub- acute aging model was set up by injecting the high dosage D-galatose for 6 weeks. Both before and after making the model, learning and memory tests were conducted once. 2. Medicine was administered for S weeks. Then comparative investigation was carried out: (1) The change in learning and memory in the mice. (2) The changes in membrane phosphatide lipid components at celebral cortex, hippocampus and corpus striatum, including phosphatidylcholines (PC), phospbatidylethaxnlolanine(PE), phosphatidylserine(PS), sphingomyolins(SM), as well as the aging index of membrane SM/PC. (3) The ohanges in immunological function, including the thymus index and the activity of interleukine-2. (4) The changes of heromophology with thymus and hippocampus. Results: Compared with the normal control group, the model control group showed a marked deterioration in learning and memory ability, the membrane phospholipid components changed in different parts of the brain. PC declined, while SM and membrane aging index SM/PC increased. Immunological function declined. This proved that D-galatose had made the model mice?s brains aged. Angelica pubescens and its extractive can distinctly improve the learning and memory ability of aging model mice, relieve the aging of membrane phospholipid components in different parts of the brain, increase the immunological function, ameliorate the aging changes of heramophology with thymus and hippocampus. Among them, the effects for Angelica extractive group and Angelica high dose group are especially distinct, equal to the level of normal control group. This data demonstrates that Angelica and its extractive can delay the senesense change of the brain. Conclmsion:The possible mechanism: (1) By regulating the phospholipid components of the various parts of the...