Effect of Dendrobium officinale on D-galactose-induced aging mice

To examine the effect of Dendrobium officinale (DO) on D-galactose-induced aging mice.

Aging mice was induced by D-galactose at 0.125 g/kg for 10 weeks through subcutaneous injection except for the negative control group. After 10 days, according to complete random design, the aging modeling mice were randomized into 4 groups: aging control group (10 ML·kg^-1·d^-1) of distilled water), positive control group (vitamin B₆ and ganodema lucidum tablets with a dose of 1 tablet/kg), DO-1 treatment group (DO juice with a dose of 1 g/kg), DO-2 treatment group (DO Polysaccharide with a dose of 0.32 g/kg), 14 mice in each group. All the animals were orally medicated daily for 9 weeks. Cognitive function assessment was performed using the maze test and step-down test. At the end of experiment, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels in the serum, the SOD, GSH-Px and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the cerebrum, the SOD and catalase (CAT) levels in the liver, the SOD and NO levels in the heart, and the SOD level in the kidney, were determined using commercial kits. The spleen, liver, heart, cerebrum and kidney were excised for histological study.

Compared to aging control group, DO shortened the time of passing through the maze and prolong the step-down latency of aging mice (P <0.05 or P<0.01). DO markedly up-regulated serum levels of SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC, and restored SOD levels in the heart, liver, kidney and cerebrum to normal status (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DO at the dose of 1 g/kg also signififi cantly improved the degree of spleen lesions (P<0.01).

DO had marked anti-aging effect on D-galactose-induced model of aging. The underlying mechanism could be related to modulation on antioxidation system and immune system. The results indicated that DO could potentially be used as natural drugs or functional foods for preventing aging.