So-Min Park, Hae-Yeon Choi, Eun-Ju Lee, Mi-Young Park, Jong-Won Lee, Na-Mi Kim, Mi-Kyung Sung
Abstract
To investigate antioxidant efficacy of medicinal plants known to possess anti-aging properties, the herb preparations were fed to 10-month-old rats. The herb preparations included ethanol extracts of red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer), Chinese lizard’s tail (Saururus chinensis Hort.ex Loud), and Korean raspberry (fruits of Rubus coreanus Miquel). Plasma protein carbonyls, malondialdehyde, 8-iso-prostaglandinF2α, lymphocyte DNA damage, α-tocopherol concentration, and ferric reducing ability were measured as oxidative stress markers. The aged rats showed higher levels of malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostaglandinF2α, and protein carbonyl and lower level of α-tocopherol compared to young rats. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were decreased in the aged rats fed diets supplemented with any of the herbal preparations. 8-Iso-prostaglandinF2α was lower in rats fed the 0.5 or 1.0% Chinese lizard’s tail- or 1% Korean raspberry extract-supplemented diet. The 1:1:1 mixture of herbal preparations decreased the level of 8-iso-prostaglandinF2α. Rats fed 1.0% Chinese lizard’s tail or Korean raspberry diets showed increased α-tocopherol level. These results indicated that the level of oxidative stress is increased in the aged animals and herbal preparations are effective in the alleviation of age-related oxidation.
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