ABSTRACT
Aging can cause degenerative changes in the function of multiple tissues and organs in the body. Gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal dysfunction are very common in the elderly people. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the total extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in natural aging mice, which will provide clues for further mechanism study. The natural aging mice model is established and animal experiments follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The overall health of the mice was evaluated by the "frailty index" scoring method. The intestinal absorption and transport function were measured by detecting intestinal glucose absorption capacity, transport time, lipase and amylase activities of aging mice. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by detecting inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in the intestines of aging mice were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and alizarin blue (AB) staining. The qRT-PCR method was used to explore the gene transcription level related with the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA were used to evaluate the composition of gut microbiota. The results showed that Astragalus had a tendency to reduce the "frailty index" of aging mice, but did not show a significant difference. In some indicators of aging phenotype, Astragalus has the most significant effect on hair loss and physical fitness. In terms of intestinal function, Astragalus could increase intestinal glucose absorption capacity, shorten intestinal transportation time and promote lipase secretion in aging mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the aging intestinal tissue were reduced after Astragalus administration. Astragalus also ameliorated the pathological degeneration of the intestinal tissue of aging mice by increasing the length of small intestinal villi, the thickness of colonic mucosa and goblet cell number. In addition, Astragalus elevated the expression of genes associated with the proliferation and differentiation in jejunum and modulated gut microbiota, especially restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae. Taken together, the above research results demonstrate the total extract of Astragalus as a key factor improving the intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis of aging mice.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Angelica Sinensis polysacchairides (ASP) on the testis of aging mice induced by D-galactose(D-Gal) and its mechanism. Methods: Forty male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into the normal,ASP normal,aging model and ASP aging model groups,with 10 mice in each group.The aging model group mice were subeutaneously injected with D-Gal(120 mg/kg, qd Ã- 42); the normal group mice were subcutaneously injected with saline of the same dose at the same time; the ASP normal group mice were subeutaneously injected with the same amount of saline,qdx 15,and following intraperitoneally injected with ASP(140 mg/kg,qdÃ-27);the ASP aging model group were the same as the aging model group, from the 16th day of establishment of the aging model group on, the mice were subcutaneously injected with the same dose and the same time of ASP.The 2nd day after model establishment, peripheral blood was collected from the inner canthus vein and the content of serum testosterone was measured;the testes were sampled and testicular index determined; paraffin sections and HE staining of the testes were prepared, the testis histopathology was observed; frozen sections of the testes were prepared, the aging of testicular cells was detected by senescence associated-|3-galactosidase (SA-p-Gal) staining; the tissue homogenate of testes was prepared, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evaluated by enzymatic method, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was detected by 2,2' -amino-di(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline sulphonic acid-6) ammonium salt(ABTS),the content of malondialdehyde (M DA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid method; the expression of aging-related proteins P53 and P21 was detected by Western blotting. Results There is no significant difference in the wet weight of testis and the index of testicular organs in the groups,but the testicular tissue structure of the aging model group was obviously damaged.The layers of the spermatogenic cells in seminiferous epithelium, the testicular interstitial cells and the serum testosterone level significantly decreased; the positive cells detected by SA-Î2-Gal stain markedly increased; the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) obviously decreased,while the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) increased significantly;and the expression of P53 and P21 was evidently up-regulated.Compared the ASP aging model group with the aging model group, the testicular tissue structure was not obviously damaged.The number of the spermatogenic cells,the testicular interstitial cells and the serum testosterone level decreased less evidently, the SA-Î2-Gal stain positive cells decreased significantly; the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased significantly, while the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) decreased significantly; and the expression of P53 and P21 was remarkably down-regulated. Conclusion: ASP can antagonize testis aging induced by D-galactose in mice. Inhibition of oxidative stress damage and the expression of senescence-associated genes may be the underlying mechanism.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of different polarity of components of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati on the spleen and thymus gland in D-galactose-induced aging-model mice so as to establish the anti-aging mechanism and anti-aging active components of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati.METHODS:Different polarity of extracts of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati were extracted respectively with benzin petroleum,acetic ether,dehydrated alcohol,80% ethanol,and water as extract solvents.The model mice were intragastrically administered with different polarity of components of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati for 56 consecutive days,and the effects of each extractive on the indexes and pathological change of immune organ D-galactose-induced aging-model mice were monitored.RESULTS:Compared with each other extractive,aqueous extract of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati can prevent the atrophy of thymus and spleen,and ameliorate the patho-constitution of spleen and thymus gland.CONCLUSION:Aqueous extract of Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati maybe the anti-aging active components in Rhizoma Polygonati Odovati,and its mechanism maybe related to its function to prevent the atrophy of immune organs and improve the immune function.