Abstract:The antioxidant activities in vivo of yellow-margined box turtle muscle polypeptides were investigated by orally feeding D-galactose-induced aging mice. A subacute aging mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (200 mg/(kg?d)) for 6 weeks. Using L-carnosine as positive control, yellow-margined box turtle muscle polypeptides were taken to mice by gavage at three different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/(kg?d). The mice were slaughtered after 6 weeks, and the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum, liver and brain were assayed. The results showed that the antioxidant effects of yellow-margined box turtle muscle polypeptides were positively correlated with the increased dosages. Compared with model control group, yellow-margined box turtle muscle polypeptides could significantly increase SOD activity by 41.71% and reduce MDA level by 28.80% in the serum (p < 0.01). An obvious increase of T-AOC activity by 31.08% in the serum and SOD activity by 22.08% in the brain was also observed (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the activity of GSH-Px in the serum and liver exhibited an obvious increase by 22.94% and 14.53% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the content of MDA in the brain and liver revealed a reducing trend by 22.03% and 11.88% (p < 0.05), respectively. Therefore, the yellow-margined box turtle muscle polypeptides showed obvious antioxidant activities in vivo, and they would have a great prospect for deep development and comprehensive utilization.
