title: Effect of zibushenjing fang on skeletal development and brain tissue antioxidation in mice with kidney essence insufficiency: a mechanistic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Zibushenjing Fang (formula for tonifying the kidney essence) on skeletal development and brain tissue antioxidation in mice with kidney essence insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, model group, Jinkuishenqi Wan group, Zibushenjing Fang high dose group, and Zibushenjing Fang low dose group, with 10 mice in each group. The model of kidney essence insufficiency syndrome was established in all the mice except the normal group by using a cat to threaten the mice and by swimming until exhaustion daily which lasted about 21 days. Mice in the model group were administered 20 mL/ kg(-1) x d(-1) of normal saline intragastrically. The Jinkuishenqi Wan group was given 2.7 g/kg(-1) x d(-1) of a solution of Jinkuishenqi Wan. The Zibushenjing Fang high dose group was given 20 g/kg(-1) x d(-1) and the Zibushenjing Fang low dose group was given 10 g/kg(-1) x d(-1) of a solution of Zibushenjing Fang. The general condition of all the groups was observed, including the quantity of food and water intake, swimming time, length of femur, and weight of the femur and musculus quadriceps femoris. The total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) activities in the brain tissues were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zibushenjing Fang could improve the manifestation of kidney essence insufficiency, increase the quantity of food and water intake, swimming time, femur length, and femur and musculus quadriceps femoris weight. It could also regulate the activities of T-SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA in brain tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zibushenjing Fang may play an important role in treating kidney essence insufficiency syndrome by promoting body development and improving brain tissue antioxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Intervention, First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors.forename: Yuezhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Junxiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase