Using an Aging Rat Model to Investigate the Antioxidative Ability of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Leaf Extract

[Objective] To evaluate the antioxidative effects of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf extract in D-galactose-induced aging rats. [Method] 50 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into five groups, including a control group, an aging model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dosage artichoke treatment groups. Except for the control group, all other groups were injected with D-galactose solution daily for 36 consecutive days at the dosage of 400 mg/kg body weight. Rats in the three artichoke treatment groups of low-, medium- and high-dosage were orally administered artichoke at dosages of 20, 40 or 80 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Rats in control group and aging model group were orally administered an equal volume of distilled water. Along with body weight and hematological parameters, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipofuscin (LF) was measured in the serum, liver, and brain. [Result] The results showed that SOD activity in the brain and liver, GSH-Px activity in the brain, and CAT activity in the liver of the artichoke treatment groups increased significantly compared with the aging model group, whereas the content of MDA in the serum and LF in the brain and liver decreased significantly. [Conclusion] Artichoke leaf extract showed good antioxidative ability in aging rats.