Studies On Anti-aging Effects Of Echinacoside And Their Mechanism

As a normal and complex life process, Aging involves a series of specific procedural changes in different organizations and cells. The main shows of aging are the adaptive ability to environmental stimuli weakened or lost, the organization function of a variety of organs recession and impact on health. The theory about aging mechanism includes free radical theory, aging telomere theory, mitochondrial DNA damage theory, immune theory, aging gene theory and so on. These theories make many further explorations to the mechanism of aging from different point of views.Current research progress shows that aging is necessary in any life process regularly, to prevent aging is impossible, but slow aging speed, to let people’s life reach the highest natural lifespan is completely possible. Modern pharmacology shows that Herba Cistanche has a function of anti-aging, but few report the major component and activity unit of Herba Cistanche.For further development and application, this subject studies protective effect of echinacoside (ECH) on aging in mice and explore its mechanism from different aspects of aging theory.Objective:Echinacoside are the major component and activity unit of Herba Cistanche.This paper is to study on anti-aging effects and their possible mechanism.Methods:Three months ICR mice were randomly divided into6groups:normal group, model group, positive control group, ECH low, medium and high dose group, and the number of male and female mice is same in each group. Mice in each group, but the normal group, were sc10%D-galactose10ml·kg-1, once daily for8weeks to establish the aging model,the normal group was given the same volume of normal saline.VitaminE group, and ECH groups were given ig VitaminE40mg·kg-1and ECH20,40,60mg·kg-1,respectively at one time.Through the experiments to observe the changes of aging mice of appearance, behavior.The ability of learning and memory were studied by the set down test.Through the hypoxia,resistant to fatigue test to observe the survival time and swimming time in different groups.The Interferon-y (IFN-y) and interleukin-6(IL-6) content in peripheral blood was measured by ELISA method.Phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages was tested by neutral red test. Proliferation and transformation of spleen lymphocytes induced by ConA were determined by MTT method. The pathological changes of kidney tissue was observed by HE staining, and the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-β1)protein in kidney tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Xanthine oxides method was used to analysis the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD).Thibabituric acid TBA was used to measured the content of malondialdehyde (MDA).The content of nitric oxide (NO) was observed by nitrate reduction method.Results:1. Compared with normal control group, the model rats exhibited general signs of aging, which included drooping spirits,slow action and loss of hair.The set down test show that the ability of learning and memory was decreased. The survival time and swimming time were obviously decreased. The IFN-y content, phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages and proliferation of spleen lymphocytes were obviously decreased and the IL-6content was significantly increased.HE staining of kidney tissue sections showed that the glomerular atrophy distribution is sparse and fibrosis; Immunohistochemical staining showed that the model group TGF-β1mean absorbance values and the percentage of positive cells significantly increased.The activity of SOD and the NO content decreased,the content of MDA increased significantly (P<0.01).All of above suggested that sc D-galactose to establish the aging model was successful.2. Compared with model group, the mice of ECH group were strong vitality. The learning latent period time and mistake number have no significant differences.The memory latent period time increased and the mistake number decline(P<0.05, P<0.01). ECH can increase the survival time and swimming time. All of above suggested that ECH can improve the aging degree.3. ECH group can enhance the thymus weight index and the spleen weight index, improve the IFN-y content, phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages and transformation of spleen lymphocytes, reduce the IL-6content(P<0.05, P<0.01).4. ECH can increase the number of glomerular atrophy and reverse kidney tissue fibrosis,probably through inhibit the expression of TGF-β1(P<0.05, P<0.01) to exert a protection on aging kidney.5. ECH can increased the activity of SOD and the content of NO, reduce the MDA content(P<0.05, P<0.01). All of above suggested that ECH can enhance the antioxidative activities against oxidative stress.Concultion:ECH has the effect of anti-aging.The relative mechanisms may be as follows:enhance immune function; inhibition the TGF-β1expression, to promote ECM degradation, inhibition of ECM deposition, and thus reverse kidney tissue fibrosis; regulating the balance of oxidative and antioxidant system by resisting oxidation and inhibiting of lipid peroxidation.