Neuroprotective effects of polysaccharide of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus in aging mice

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Schisandra Chinensis Fructus polysaccharide (SCP) on learning and memory, hippocampal antioxidant activity and Keap1/Nrf2 signal transduction pathway in an aging mouse model. The step-down test was used to observe learning and memory. Biochemical analysis was used to detect Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Nrf2, HO-1, and Keap1 gene expression in the hippocampus were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). SCP can improve the learning and memory ability (P<0.05), increase hippocampal SOD activity, decrease MDA levels, up-regulate Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expressions, down-regulate Keap1 gene expression (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that SCP can improve brain damage in D-galactose-induced aging mice, improve antioxidant enzyme activity, reduce lipid peroxidation, and has obvious anti-aging effects. Its anti-aging activity may be related to activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signal transduction pathway in the hippocampus.