RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-aging effect of polysaccharides from Urtica lobatifolia (Urtica polysaccharides) on subacute aging mice induced by D-galactose. METHODS: 90 mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal group, aging mice model group, V(E) group [100 mg/(kg x d), ig], high level of Urtica polysaccharides group [200 mg/(kg x d), ig], medium level of Urtica polysaccharides group [100 mg/(kg x d), ig] and low level of Urtica polysaccharides group [50 mg/(kg x d), ig]. The normal group was injected saline [10 mL/(kg x d), sc], while the other groups were injected D-galactose [150 mg/(kg x d), sc]. After six weeks, all the animals were weighed. After eight arm maze experiment and swimming endurance experiment, serum, liver and brain was collected. The content of protein in serum,liver and brain was detected. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver and brain samples were evaluated by kits. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, Urtica polysaccharides groups mice had larger body weight, longer swimming time, shorter time out of the maze and fewer numbers of error, as well as higher protein content in serum, liver and brain. The capacity of T-AOC, the activities of SOD and GSH-Px of polysaccharides groups in brain and liver tissue were increased significantly, and the MDA content was decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Polysaccharides from Urtica lobatifolia has anti-aging effects on aging model mice, and the mechanism may be related to its antioxidant effect.