The effect of red mold dioscorea and Chinese herb for elderly people geriatric disease prevention

• Main Authors: Chien-Li Chen, 陳建利
• Other Authors: 潘子明
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/71970399635375580800

博士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 生化科技學系 === 102 === With improvements in living conditions and advances in medical technologies, humans are living longer. Aging puts people at a greater risk for health issues, metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases related to aging have an impact on society as a whole. The aging related issues have brought great attention to the world and have been discussed extensively. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of interaction of red mold dioscorea (RMD), which has long been considered a food product, with medicines in different animal models of metabolic syndrome. Results obtained from hyperlipidemia groups indicated that the blood cholesterol levels in groups that feeding RMD more than 22.96 mg/100 g hamster were significantly decreased by 23.3% (p < 0.05). Rat models of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes were established. These animals were divided into groups that feeding RMD more than 176 mg/kg rat the insulin concentrations were increased significantly up to 3.0 IU/mL (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in glycated hemoglobin significant decreases 3.4% (p < 0.05). Further, we used RMD with amlodipine to investigate RMD’s effect on the anti-hypertension effect of amlodipine in a rat model of spontaneous hypertension. The results indicated that a single oral dose of RMD (176 mg/kg) administered over an 8-h period significantly (p < 0.05) decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 6.1% and 7.0%, respectively. No change in heart rate was observed. We did not observe rhabdomyolysis, a potentially dangerous side effect of statin drugs, in any experiments with animal models of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, no animal exhibited signs of liver or kidney dysfunction. In the second part, we aimed to develop functional foods by using Chinese herbs to counteract the effects of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). For this purpose, extracts of the Chinese herbs Rosa rugosa, Crataegus pinnatifida, Centella asiatica, and Semen Zizyphi spinosae were selected from their high antioxidant activity. In the aggregated Aβ1-40 neurotoxin model of IMR 32 cells, we found that Centella asiatica and the Semen Zizyphi spinosae ethanol extract had lower cell toxicity and protected IMR 32 cells from aggregation of the neurotoxic Aβ1-40 peptide. We established an animal model of AD by continuously injecting Aβ into the hippocampus of SD rats by using an ALZET brain infusion pump. Groups fed Centella asiatica, Semen Zizyphi spinosae ethanol extract, or RMD demonstrated slight improvements in learning and memory capacity. After the animals were sacri&;#64257;ced, serum biochemical analyses for liver function, renal function, and electrolyte balance were performed. No changes were observed in any of these parameters. Serum and hippocampus samples were collected to examine AD risk factors. Aβ40 infusion increased acetylcholinesterase activity and decreased total antioxidant status and superoxide dismutase activity in the brain; however, these damages were potently reversed upon administration of Centella asiatica, Semen Zizyphi spinosae ethanol extract, or RMD. Moreover, the protection afforded by these herbs was more signi&;#64257;cant than that afforded by cholinesterase inhibitor drugs. In conclusion, our study provides further efficacy data in support of traditional functional foods for the treatment of diseases. We found that Centella asiatica, Semen Zizyphi spinosae, and RMD inhibit Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and may play a role in preventing the deleterious effects associated with AD. On the basis of these findings, we recommend the development of functional foods for therapy or as adjuvant agents for the prevention of AD.