Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Neurochem Int. 2013 Apr;62(5):522-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.08.018. Epub 2012 Sep 11.
Age is the leading risk factor for many of the most prevalent and devastating diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. A number of herbal medicines have been used for centuries to ameliorate the deleterious effects of ageing-related diseases and increase longevity. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in normal ageing as well as in neurodegenerative processes. Since many of the constituents of herbal extracts are known antioxidants, it is believed that restoring oxidative balance may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which medicinal herbs can protect against ageing and cognitive decline. Based on the premise that astrocytes are key modulators in the progression of oxidative stress associated neurodegenerative diseases, 13 herbal extracts purported to possess anti-ageing properties were tested for their ability to protect U373 human astrocytes from hydrogen peroxide induced cell death. To determine the contribution of antioxidant activity to the cytoprotective ability of extracts, total phenol content and radical scavenging capacities of extracts were examined. Polygonum multiflorum, amongst others, was identified as possessing potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Not surprisingly, total phenol content of extracts was strongly correlated with antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, when total phenol content and radical scavenging capacities of extracts were compared to the cytoprotective properties of extracts, only moderately strong correlations were observed. This finding suggests the involvement of multiple protective mechanisms in the beneficial effects of these medicinal herbs.
年龄是许多最普遍和最具破坏性疾病的主要风险因素，包括神经退行性疾病。几个世纪以来，许多草药已被用于减轻与衰老相关疾病的有害影响并延长寿命。氧化应激被认为在正常衰老以及神经退行性过程中起作用。由于草药提取物的许多成分是已知的抗氧化剂，因此人们认为恢复氧化平衡可能是草药能够预防衰老和认知能力下降的潜在机制之一。基于星形胶质细胞是与氧化应激相关的神经退行性疾病进展中的关键调节剂的前提，测试了 13 种据称具有抗衰老特性的草药提取物，以确定它们是否能够保护 U373 人星形胶质细胞免受过氧化氢诱导的细胞死亡。为了确定抗氧化活性对提取物的细胞保护能力的贡献，检查了提取物的总酚含量和自由基清除能力。何首乌等被确定为具有强大的抗氧化和细胞保护特性。毫不奇怪，提取物的总酚含量与抗氧化能力强烈相关。有趣的是，当将提取物的总酚含量和自由基清除能力与提取物的细胞保护特性进行比较时，仅观察到中等强度的相关性。这一发现表明这些草药的有益作用涉及多种保护机制。
