earticle

영어

In this study, we investigated the effects by age of long-tenn supplementation of Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN)-containing water on the in vivo antioxidant capacities of rats. All rats were reared in a conventional system, and none of the rats showed any signs of aversion to the EKN solution. Neither the mean nor maximum life spans of the rats were extended by long-tenn administration of the solution. The EKN extract caused decreases in the levels of serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the rats. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase within the liver cytosol decreased with age in both the control and EKN-supplemented groups. GSH peroxidase activity, however, was higher at old age in the EKN-supplemented group. The activities of GSH reductase and GSH-S-transferase, and the levels of free-sulfhydryl (SH) and total-SH group gradually decreased with age in both groups. However, there was some tendency for higher levels in the EKN supplemented group at a corresponding age. These results indicate that long-tenn supplementation of EKN water extracts alone does not exhibit discernible adverse effects in rats, and has some enhancing effects on the antioxidant capacities of the blood and liver, but it does not have life-prolonging effects.