Study On The Anti-aging Action Of Gypenosides On Brain Tissue Of Aged Mice Induced By D-galactose

Backgroud Gynostemma pentaphyllum is one of main medicinal plants with widely distributions and abundant resources. There are 11 species of gynostemma pentaphyllum in China, It has been shown that gynostemma pentaphyllum contains rich chemicals, and it is rich in ginsenosides. Since 1970's, 84 kinds of gypenosides have been isolated from the plant, of which 6 kinds are identical to the structure of ginsenosides, such as ginseng saponin Rb1, Rb3, Rd, F2, K and Rg3. Besides, gynostemma pentaphyllum contains many essential amino acids and trace elements, such as germanium, selenium and zinc, which can help to resist aging, fight ulcer, resrtain proliferation of cancer cell, and improve the immunity of the body. Specially, the anti-aging action of it obtains much more attentions. However, one of the most interesting issues, the anti-aging action of gynostemma pentaphyllum on brain tissue and its affection on brain cells in the hippocampus area were poorly studied. Such an issue deserves to be examined.Objective The objective of the thesis is to investigate the anti-aging action of gypenosides. We examine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood plasma and brain tissue of D-galactose-induced aged mice under the influence of gypenosides. We observe the structural change of mice's brain tissue and the positive influence on the aged brains by giving different rates of drug delivery to the D-galactose-induced aged mice, and then extract the effect of gynostemma pentaphyllum on lightening the brain aging of aged mice induced by D-galactose Method The samples were sixty Kunming male mice at two months old and 28g to 32g body weight of each. They were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 mice in each group, including yong controls (Group A), model controls (Group B), high dose of Gypenosides (Group C), middle dose of Gypenosides (Group D), low dose of Gypenosides (Group E), and Ve controls (Group F). The mice in Groups B, C, D, E and F were injected with 10% concentration of D-galactose (0.1ml/10g body weight) in the napes and backs once a day, while Group A was injected with the same dose of saline. They were weighed once every four days. Then, Groups C, D and E were treated with gypenoside extract at the doses of 150 mg, 100mg and 50mg per kilogram body weight, respectively, while Group B was treated with the same dose of saline and Group F was treated with vitamin E 75mg per kilogram body weight. After 45 days of treatment, the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and the content of MDA in blood plusma and brain tissue were measured by biochemical analysis and the structural change of brain tissue were observed by making pathological section of brain tissue. Results Compared with the model controls (Group B), the activity of SOD in blood plasma of mice in Groups A,C,D and F are significantly enhanced ( P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01). The activity of SOD in brain tissue of mice in Groups A,C,D,E and F are significantly enhanced ( P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01). The content of MDA in blood plasma in Groups A,C,D and F are significantly decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05). The content of MDA in brain tissue in Groups A,C,D,E and F are significantly decreased ( P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01). The activities of GSH-Px in both blood plasma and brain tissue in Groups A,C,D,E and F are significantly enhanced (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological section shows that the brain tissue of the mice in Groups A,C,D and F have a clear hippocampus structure with high density, small gap and darker color of cells. In comparison, the hippocampus structure in Groups B and E is not clear, the density of cells the in hippocampus is low, the gap among the cells is large, and nucleo-cytoplasm ratio is small.Conclusion Hypodermic injection of D-galactose decrease the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and increase the content of MDA in blood plasma and brain tissue of mice, which makes the mice aged. Gypenosides can scavenge free radical and enhance antioxidant ability of organism. Gypenosides increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px and decrease the content of MDA in blood plasma and brain tissue of aged mice induced by D-galactose. It reduces oxidative damage in brain tissue of aged mice, and then delays the aging of brain tissue.