BACKGROUND:Senility is the degenerative change of every tissue and organ in b iological body,which is the result due to comprehensive actions of various patho logical and physiological processes. Rhodiola is a kind of natural medical plant ,acting on delaying organic senility,preventing and treating senile disorders,et c.But the definite mechanisms on those have been unknown yet.OBJECTIVE:To probe into the mechanism of rhodiola extract(nuodikang capsule) on anti- senility.DESIGN:Randomized, controlled experimental research based on the experimental animals.SETTING:Neurological internal department in a military hospital affiliated to a university of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS:The experiment was performed in Pathology Experiment Room of Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from March to August 2002.Sixty Kunm ing mice were randomized into normal control group, model group, 3 dosage groups of 1,2,4 g/kg of nuodikang successively and Vitamin E(Vit.E) positive control g roup 0.1 mg/kg, 10 mice in each group.INTERVENTIONS:In the model, nuodikang groups and Vit.E positive control, phys iological saline solution of D- galactose 30 g/L was applied in subcutaneous at the back of neck,150 mg/kg per day, continuously for 8 weeks.Simultaneously, in nuodikang group and Vit.E positive control,the medicine was applied by gastric perfusion, once daily,continuously for 8 weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Effects of nuodikang capsule on activity of lactate deh ydrogenase(LDH),the content of lipidperoxides(LPO), the activity of superoxide d ismutase(SOD) in the brain,the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) and ultrastructur e of mitochondrion in hippocampal neurons.
RESULTS:In nuodikang capsule groups of 1,2,4 g/kg,the significant differences (P< 0.05) presented in LPO content in brain tissue<(30.1 ± 2.9),(27.8± 3.1), (26.9± 1.9) nmol/g> and MDA content<(110.2± 13.5),(95.4± 20.1),(90.2± 16.5) nmol/g>,1 compared with the model group<(33.4± 2.2), (126.5± 17.2) nmol/g>,ind icating significant differences(P< 0.05),and LDH activity<(1.74± 0.14),(1.92± 0.23),(2.04± 0.21) NU/g> and SOD activity<(119.1± 2.2),(121.3± 0.9), (126.4± 2.0) NU/g> were remarkably increased, compared with the model group<(1.68± 0.1 9),(115.9± 2.1) NU/g>,indicating significant differences(P< 0.05).It was indica ted by electro- microscope that nuodikang capsule groups of 2,4 g/kg acted on o bvious protection on degenerative change of mitochondrion in hippocampal neurons caused by galactose.CONCLUSION:Nuodikang capsule acts significantly on anti- senility, which is related to its anti- oxidative injury and protection on neurons.