Objective: To study major functional components of Prunellae Spica and its protective effect against the oxidative injury induced by acute restraint stress in mice. Method: The male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into negative group and model control group

and 1.25

2.50

7.50 g · kg-1 Prunellae Spica intervention groups. Mice in the intervention groups were given Prunellae Spica by gavage for 5 days

mice in model control group and negative group were given distilled water. After the last administration

intervention groups and model control group received 2 h acute restraint stress

and then the mice in the groups were sacrificed. The following anti-oxidative indicators in brain tissues were detected respectively:oxidative stress reactive oxygen species (ROS)

hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

malondialdehyde (MDA)

8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)

protein carbonyl content

superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. We analyzed main components of prunella

including total flavonoids (aluminum nitrate chromogenic method)

total triterpenoids (vanillin colorimetric method) and total polysaccharides (phenol-sulfuric acid method)

and detected their total antioxidant capacity (ORAC). Result: Compared with the negative group

content of H2O2

MDA

8-OHdG and protein carbonyl in model group significantly increased

while SOD activity obviously decreased (P<0.05

P<0.01). No obvious difference was found in ROS and GSH-Px contents. Compared with the model control group

SOD activity in the three intervention groups was increased (P<0.05

P<0.01)

content of H2O2

MDA and protein carbonyl were much decreased. Total flavonoids content was 8.91 mg · g-1

total triterpene content was 2.45 mg · g-1

and total polysaccharide content was 10.16 mg · g-1. Total ORAC values of total flavonoids

total triterpenoids and polysaccharides were (127.5±1.0)

(45.75±2.5)

(2.25±0.75) mmol · L-1

respectively. Conclusion: Prunellae Spica intervention showed a certain protective effect against the oxidative injury induced by acute restraint stress in mice

and flavonoids may be the major functional ingredient against oxidative stress.