Abstract:To explore the effect of blueberry extract on hepatic oxidative stress and apoptotic effects in aged rats, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and protein carbonyl levels in serum of aged rats were determined after treatment with different dose blueberry extract for 30 days. Liver sections were examined by optical microscopy. In addition, the expression of antioxidant gene and apoptosis gene were detected by RT-PCR in liver tissue. The results showed that, MDA and protein carbonyl levels in the high dosage with blueberry extract were significantly reduced to 7.81±1.55 nmol/mL and 0.92±0.42 nmol/(mg prot), and SOD level of blueberry extract supplemented groups was significantly increased to 134.61±12.27 U/mL. The liver sections showed that the blueberry extract could keep the hepatocytes better in morphology. Moreover, the expression of antioxidant genes were significantly up-regulated (SOD1, GPx1, CAT and Gclm) and apoptosis genes were down regulated (Caspase-9 and Apaf1) in blueberry extract treatment groups. The results suggest that blueberry extract could relieve oxidative stress of aged rats and has a good hepatic-protective and anti-aging effect. Its mechanism may be related to promote antioxidant capacity and repress hepatocyte apoptosis.
