Study on the anti-aging effects and the changes of the content of active components in different decocting methods of Epimedii folium and Eucommiae cortex

Abstract

Objective To observe the content changes of the active components and anti-aging effects of Epimedii folium and Eucommiae cortex. Methods To prepare the Epimedii folium decoction, the eucommiae cortex decoction, the combined decoction of preparing the two herbs respectively, and the decoction of preparing the two together. Use HPLC method to analyze the content of rosin alcohol diglucosideand icariin, and UV spectrophotometry method to determine the content of total flavonoids. Then randomly divided the mice into normal group, model group and medicated group, 12 for each group. To establish a sub-acute aging female mice model induced by D-galactose, and to investigate the effects of Eucommia ulmoides and Epimedium on the daily behavior and body weight of sub-acute aging mice. The effect of compatibility of monodecoction combined solution on learning and memory ability further evaluation of its organ coefficient. Results The content of rosin glycosides and icariin in the combined decoction of preparing the two respectively was higher than that of in the decoction of preparing them together. The difference of the flavonoids content is not obvious . Compared with the model group, the weight of medicated group significantly increased (P<0.05), the latency of the platform test (278.06 ± 81.16 s vs. 201.67 ± 91.67 s) significantly prolonged, the number of errors (1.96 ± 0.71 vs. 2.21 ± 0.69) significantly decreased, and the thymus index (48.29 ± 14.69 vs. 44.95 ± 10.87) significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions The different decoction preparing methods of Epimedii folium and Eucommiae cortex will lead to the different content of effective components. The combined decoction of preparing the two herbs together will gain higher content of the components and with anti-aging effect. Key words: Epimedii folium; Eucommiae cortex; Decoction preparing methods; Flavonoids; Antiaging drugs (TCD); Mice