Abstract:

The experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts from bee pollen (EEBP) on learning, memory and brain antioxidant abilities in aged mice induced by D-galactose. Fifty ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups, designated as normal control, model control, low-dose, moderate-dose and high-dose EEBP groups. The mice in normal control group were given saline by gavage, in the other groups were given D-galactose solution by neck back subcutaneous injection at the daily dose of 500 mg/kg·BW for 8 consecutive weeks. At the same time,EEBP treated mice were administered EEBP by gavage at the daily doses of 400,800 and 1 600 mg/kg·BW, respectively. The learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by Y-maze and step-down tests. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in brain tissue of the mice were measured. The results showed that EEBP could enhance the memory, increase the activities of SOD,GSH-Px and decrease the content of CAT in mice.In conclusion, EEBP could ameliorate the degeneration of learning and memory abilities in D-galactose-induced aging mice,improve brain antioxidant abilities and thus delay brain aging.

Key words: ethanol extracts from bee pollen; mice; antioxidation; learning; memory