Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2022;82(4):433-441. doi: 10.55782/ane-2022-041.
Aging promotes damage to vulnerable organs like brain and liver. Sanguisorba minor has been traditionally used to cure various ailments. Few studies have reported pharmacological activities of this medicinal plant. This research aimed to investigate the effects of Sanguisorba minor extract (SME) on brain and liver injury in aging rats and identify the underlying mechanisms. The aging model was developed by subcutaneously injecting D‑galactose and simultaneously treating them with SME. After biochemical and pathological assessments, mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor‑erythroid factor 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Nrf2‑ regulated gene, heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1), in the brain and liver tissues were determined. As a result, malondialdehyde and acetylcholinesterase levels were elevated while total thiol content and superoxide dismutase were reduced in the aging rats. Treatment with the extract remarkably attenuated oxidative injury and pathological changes in liver and brain tissues. Concomitantly, the extract up‑regulated Nrf2 and HO‑1 genes. Our findings exhibited SME may improve the aging‑related brain and liver damage through the Nrf2‑HO‑1 pathway.
衰老大脑组织和肝脏等脆弱器官受损。地榆传统上被用于治疗各种疾病。很少有研究报道过这种药用植物的药理学活性。本研究旨在探讨地榆提取物（SME）对衰老大鼠脑和肝损伤的影响，并探讨其潜在机制。通过皮下注射 D-半乳糖并同时用 SME 处理来建立衰老模型。在进行生化和病理评估后，测定脑和肝组织中核因子-红细胞生成素 2 相关因子 2（Nrf2）和 Nrf2 调节基因血红素加氧酶-1（HO-1）的 mRNA 表达水平。结果显示，衰老大鼠的丙二醛和乙酰胆碱酯酶水平升高，而总巯基含量和超氧化物歧化酶降低。提取物处理可显著减轻肝和脑组织的氧化损伤和病理变化。同时，提取物上调了 Nrf2 和 HO-1 基因。我们的研究结果表明，SME 可能通过 Nrf2-HO-1 通路改善与衰老相关的脑和肝损伤。
