Abstract：Objective To study how Radix Polygalae extracts improve memory function and their effect on the metabolism of oxidative free radicals in the hippocampus and cortex of aged rats.Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats aged 24 months were purchased and randomly divided into two groups: the blank group and Radix Polygalae group, while another 12 young rats aged 6 months served as the control group. The blank group and control group were not given any intervention, but the Radix Polygalae group was lavaged with Radix Polygalae extracts for 3 months. Memory function, oxide free radical metabolism indexes of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were compared between the three groups.Results There was significant difference in escape latency, number of times the platform was crossed, retention time of platform quadrant, retention time in the effective zone and the distance of swimming between the three groups on the 5th day (F=187.631, 58.387, 36.394, 198.254, 185.436; P<0.05). The levels of NO, MDA, SOD and CAT in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats in each group were significantly different (hippocampus: F=239.196, 43.478, 625.187, 56.438; cerebral cortex: F=147.183, 36.527, 597.514, 67.502; P<0.05). Further comparison showed that each indicator of young rats in the control group was better than that of the other two groups, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusions Radix Polygalae extracts can effectively improve the memory function of aged rats, the mechanism of which is to enhance the oxidative free radical metabolism in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, with better anti-oxidative stress injury and anti-aging effect.
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2019, Vol. 30 
