Improving effects of huperzine A on abnormal lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase in aged rats

ATM: To study the effects of huperzine A on lipid peroxidation and superoxi de dismutase (SOD) in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and serum of aged rats. METHODS: The level of lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance method and represented as the concentration of malo ndialdehyde (MDA) in wet tissue. The activity of SOD was determined by xant hine-xanthine oxidase method and represented as the nitrite unit per gram p rotein in wet tissue. RESULTS: The levels of MDA and the manganese-SOD (Mn- SOD) activities in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and serum of aged male rat s were 2.3 - 2.8 times and 1.8 - 2.8 times, respectively, higher than those of adult male rats. Huperzine A (0.05 mg/kg, ig) lowered markedly the leve ls of MDA and the activities of Mn-SOD in aged male rats following 7 - 14 d consecutive administrations. The MDA levels in hippocampus, cerebral corte x, and serum decreased 44.7 - 52.8 % (7 d) and 52.6- 54. 7 % (14 d). The Mn -SOD activities in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and serum lowered 25.0 -51 .6 % (7 d) and 56.0 - 74.2 % (14 d). In adult rats, no marked change was fo und after 7-14 d consecutive administrations of huperzine A at a dose of 0. 05mg/kg. CONCLUSION: Huperzine improved the abnormal free radicals in aged rats.