Effect of <i>Colla corii asini</i> (<i>E’jiao</i>) on <small>D</small>-Galactose Induced Aging Mice

Abstract

Colla corii asini (E'jiao), donkey-hide gelatin prepared by stewing and concentrating from Equus asinus L. donkey hide, is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation widely used in clinical hematic antanemic therapy in China. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential anti-aging effect of Colla corii asini and explore related mechanisms in D-galactose (gal) induced aging model mice. The mice were artificially induced aging by subcutaneously injection with D-gal at the dose of 100 mg/kg·d for 8 weeks. Colla corii asini was simultaneously treated to them once daily by intragastric gavage. Appetite, mental condition, body weight, and organ index were observed. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, brain, and liver were determined by according assay kits. Western blotting analysis was used to detect p16 and p21 expression. Results indicated that Colla corii asini could improve appetite, mental condition, body weight, and organ condition of model mice, improve SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities, reduce MDA levels, and modulate agerelated genes expression in D-gal induced mice. Therefore, Colla corii asini may have effect to suppress the aging process through enhancing antioxidant activity, scavenging free radicals, and modulating aging-related gene expression.Key words Colla corii asini (E' jiao); anti-aging; D-galactose; antioxidant; aging-related gene Aging is a natural phenomenon, and it is always associated with diverse chronic diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's and cardiovascular diseases, etc.1,2) Anti-aging has already become a major public issue with the increasing elderly population in the world. The free radical theory of aging was conceived by Harman in 1956. 3) Abundant evidences suggest that oxidative stress plays a central role in the process of biological aging.4) Oxygen-derived free radicals exert detrimental effects on human, including peroxidation of membrane lipids, enzyme inactivation, DNA fragmentation, and activation of apoptosis.5) In addition, supplementation with antioxidants has been reported to be beneficial with respect to slowing this aging process.D-Galactose (D-gal) has been used to induce oxidative stress in vivo to mimic the natural aging in mice. D-Gal can be metabolized at normal concentration, but when at high levels, it can be converted into galactitol under the catalysis of gal oxidase, resulting in the generation of superoxide anions and oxygen-derived free radicals.6) As one of the antioxidant defense systems, a group of enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), act as superoxide anion and H 2 O 2 scavengers to prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage, which may cause the changes of some biomarkers.7) Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a major biomarker that appears during the final stages of lipid peroxidation initiated by excessive ROS. An increase in the hepatic MDA concentration suggests th...

Effect of black mulberry (Morus nigra) extract treatment on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress status of d-galactose-induced aging mice

“…In agreement with previous studies on serum, brain and liver tissue of D-galactose-treated mice, there was a significant elevation in MDA levels (Zhang et al 2008;Wang et al 2012). Morus nigra significantly reduced the MDA level induced by D-galactose and it ameliorated the oxidative stress in serum, brain and liver tissues induced by longterm D-galactose exposure.…”

“…D-Galactose is a reducing sugar which can be metabolized at the normal level. However, at high concentration, an aberrant biochemical mechanism launches and D-galactose changes into galactitol which accumulates in the cell and leads to the generation of ROS (Kumar et al 2011;Wang et al 2012). Long-term administration to D-galactose induces aging-related symptoms similar to those in normal aging span, such as neurodegeneration, significant drops in learning and memory levels, substantial decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels and excessive free radical formation (Li et al 2012;Xian et al 2014).…”

Species-specific identification of collagen components in Colla corii asini using a nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics approach

“…1 Collagen is believed to be the main active component in CCA, which is widely used to nourish the blood, optimize the immune response, improve the metabolic balance, delay senescence, and treat gynecologic diseases. [2][3][4][5][6] Because CCA is very effective in practice, in 2015, its yearly production and market sales increased to approximately 6,000 tons and 1.5 billion US dollars, respectively. However, because donkeys are not major livestock animals, the increasing demand for CCA will inevitably cause a shortage of materials.…”

Overview of Beverages with Anti-Aging Functions in Chinese Market

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