Effects of Lu-Duo-Wei capsules on superoxide dismutase activity and contents of malondialdehyde and lipofuscin in the brain of the housefly

The biochemical actions of Lu-Duo-Wei capsules and tea polyphenol in relati on to their antioxidant capability have been compared in the male housefly, Musca domestica. It was found that tea polyphenol had the effect of increa sing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the brain of the housefl y only at the 60th day in the experimental period whereas Lu-Duo-Wei showed more obvious effects on SOD than tea polyphenol irrespective of experiment al days. Moreover, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the rate of li pofuscin accumulation were decreased by the effect of Lu-Duo-Wei at the 20t h, 40th, 50th and 60th days, while the similar effect of tea polyphenol on the content of MDA and lipofuscin was observed only at the 40th day. These results indicated that the biochemical actions of Lu-Duo-Wei in antiaging w as much stronger than those of tea polyphenol, the mechanism of which was p robably related to the synergistic effect of its involved antioxidants and others as well as the exclusive promotion of SOD biosynthesis / or a reduct ion of free radical-induced damage of the enzyme.