Aim To investigate the effect of the total flavonoids of Epimedium (TFE)on MAPK/NF-κB sig-naling pathway and the inflammatory reaction in the hippocampus of natural aging male rats.Methods The morphological changes of the hippocampus com-posed of three areas (CA1 ,CA3 and DG)were ob-served using haematoxylin-eoin (HE ) staining.The protein expression levels of senescence-associated pro-tein p21,apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2, nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65 )and its downstream inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1βand COX-2,and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (ERK1/2,p-ERK1/2,JNK,p-JNK,p38MAPK,p-p38MAPK)in hippocampal were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with natural aging group, TFE obviously improved the morphology and structure of hippocampal neurons,and the nerve cells arranged neatly and closely. Furthermore, TFE significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of p2 1 and Bax,upregulated the protein expression levels of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax,and reduced the expression of NF-κB p65 and of its downstream inflammatory fac-tors TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (p-ERK1/2,p-JNK and p-p38 MAPK ) in hippocampus of natural aging rats. Conclusions TFE effectively protects against inflam-matory reaction in brain aging of SD male rats.The mechanism is related with inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and reduction of its downstream inflamma-tory cytokines expression by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway activation.

AIM To investigate the effects of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (Lycii Fructus,Cuscutae Semen,Rubi Fructus,Plantaginis Semen and Schisandrae chinensis Fructus) on DNA damage of testis cells in adult male mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX).METHODS Forty out of fifty adult male Balb/C mice were injected intraperitoneally with CTX and then were randomly and equally divided into model control group (normal saline),Wuzi Yanzong Prescription low-,medium-and high-dose groups (100,200 and 400 mg/kg),and the other ten mice served as normal control group (normal saline).All mice were anesthetized by inhalation of ether,and then were sacrificed by cervical dislocation.The sperm count,sperm motility and malformation rate of sperm were tested.The content of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum was measured using ELISA;the DNA damage degree of cells in testis was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis;the protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX in testis were examined by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model control group,Wuzi Yanzong Prescription groups showed significant increase in the sperm count,sperm motility and significantly decreased malformation rate of sperm,the level of 8-OHdG in serum,and the protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX in testis were also significantly decreased.CONCLUSION Wuzi Yanzong Prescription can significantly alleviate the DNA damage of testis cells in mice induced by CTX through down-regulating protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX.