Guilingji (GLJ), a traditional Chinese medicine, is of wide concern because of its remarkable antiaging effect with a long application history. It mainly consists of traditional Chinese herbs, that is, Ginseng radix et rhizoma rubra. This study focused on the anti-aging effects of GLJ on natural aging rats and its underlying mechanisms. Morris water maze was used to determine the learning and memory ability of rats. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholine (ACh), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in serum were determined. Furthermore, a 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics coupled with multivariate data analysis was used to identify potential biomarkers and corresponding metabolic pathways. The results showed that GLJ significantly improved the learning and memorial dysfunctions of natural aging rats. The mechanisms of the anti-aging and memory ameliorative effects of GLJ related to balancing oxidative stress, improving cholinergic system. Its specific mechanism of action may be through regulating pyruvate metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism.
Keywords: Guilingji; NMR; metabolomics; natural aging rats; oxidative stress.