Protective effect of tremella polysaccharides on experimental aging mouse model

Objective:To observe the protective effect of tremella polysaccharides (TP) on mouse aging model induced by D-galactose. Methods: Forty male ICR mice were divided into 5 groups (Group A: treated with 800 mg/kg TP; Group B: treated by 400 mg/kg TP; Group C: treated by 200 mg/kg TP; Group D: aging control; Group E: normal control). Except for Group E,other groups were injected with D-galactose [120 mg/(kg·d)] for 60 d to establish subacute aging model. Group A,B and C were treated with 800,400 and 200 mg/kg TP respectively via intragastric (i.g.) administration. Sixty days later,the spleen,heart, kidney and brain were collected to determine MDA, LP, SOD, GSH-Px and contents of hydroxyproline by colorimetry. Expression of P21 in the kidney were detected by immunohischemical technique. Proliferation and transformation of spleen lymphocytes induced by ConA were determined by MTT method. Results: Antioxidants SOD and GSH-Px activity of TP treated groups were higher than aging control group (P0.05); MDA and LP of TP treated groups were also lower than those of aging control group (P0.05). TP obviously promoted the lymphocytes to proliferate induced by ConA in vitro. Furthermore, in TP treated groups, the kidney expression of cell cycle regulator P21 were lower and hydroxyproline contents in the skin were higher than those in Group D (P0.05). Conclusion: It is suggested that TP can prevent aging of mice induced by D-galactose.