Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of honeysuckle leaf flavonoids on the antioxidant defense system in various tissues of aging mice. Methods: An aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose in the neck and back, and the aging mice were gavaged with different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/(kg·d)) of honeysuckle leaf flavonoids. Changes in body weight were observed over the 30-day administration period, and liver, brain, kidney, spleen and heart indexes and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in the liver, brain, kidney, heart and serum of mice were assessed. Results: Compared with the control group, the body weight and organ indexes of mice in the model group decreased significantly, T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities and GSH content in the serum and organs decreased, and MDA content increased, with significant differences being observed for most of these parameters (P < 0.05), indicating successful construction of aging mice model. Compared with the model group, body weight, organ indexes and T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities as well as GSH content in the serum and organ tissues were improved for all dose groups; on the other hand, MDA content was decreased. The most significant effect was obtained at the high dose. Conclusion: Honeysuckle leaf flavonoids can effectively improve the antioxidant defense capacity of aging mice through a mechanism related to the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and the reduced contents of protective substances and lipid peroxide.

Key words: honeysuckle leaf, flavonoids, aging mice, D-galactose, antioxidant capacity