Abstract: This study was performed to investigate the anti-aging effects of flavonoids from Portulaca oleracea L.(FPO).After giving the drug (FPO) for 6 weeks,the effects of FPO on the activities of GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase),SOD (superoxide dismutase) and the content of MDA (malondialdehyde) in serum,brain and liver tissue were assayed using commercial monitoring kits,and the thymus index and spleen index were also measured.The effects of FPO on learning and memory ability was assessed by Morris water maze and step down test.The results showed that the activities of GSH-Px and SOD in serum,brain and liver tissue were increased significantly by FPO,while the content of MDA was decreased significantly.The thymus index and spleen index were also markedly increased.FPO markedly decreased the escape latency and increased the escape times in water maze test.In step down test,reaction time of learning,as well as error frequency in learning and memory,was markedly decreased by FPO,whereas the latency of memory was markedly increased.These results indicated that FPO had a significant anti-aging effect.

Key words: Portulaca oleracea L., water maze, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase