Abstract:

Objective: To study the anti-ageing effect of polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum (PSG-1) on aging mice induced by D-galactose and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Healthy female mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, aging model group, vitamin C (VC) (positive control) group (100 mg/kg · d), and low-, medium- and high-dose PSG-1 groups (50, 100, 150 mg/kg · d). After 10 weeks, the body weight and the liver index were examined and the activities of super-oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) and the maleic dialdehyd (MDA) content were measured respectively in liver tissue and brain tissue of mice. Results: In comparison with the aging model group, the activities of SOD, GSH- PX and CAT in liver and brain tissue of the three PSG-1 groups all were increased and the MDA content was decreased and the loss of body weight and the liver atrophy markedly were counteracted. Conclusions: PSG-1 has antiaging effects on aging model mice and the mechanism may be related to its inhibitory effect on free radicas, the enhancement of activity of antioxidases and the reduction of lipid peroxidation.

Key words: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide, D-galactose, anti-aging, free radical