Objective: To investigate the effect of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus-Epimedii Wushanensis Folium extract (SEE) on the learning-memorizing ability in D-galactose induced brain aged mice and explore its relative mechanisms. Method: The ICR mice were divided into five groups randomly

including blank control group (gavage administration of distilled water

subcutaneous injection of normal saline)

aging model group (gavage administration of distilled water

subcutaneous injection of 220 mg·kg-1 D-galactose)

and three SEE groups (150

300

600 mg·kg-1

gavage administration of SEE

orally

subcutaneous injection of D-galactose).All mice were treated for 7 weeks.By using step-through test and step-down test

the effects of SEE on learning-memorizing ability in mice were observed.Water soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) and thiobarbituric acid methods were used to detect the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in the brain tissues of mice. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expressions of p19

p53 and p21 mRNA in the brain

and linoleic acid-ferric thiocyanate method and Oyaizu method were used to test the antioxidation in vitro of SEE. Result: Step-through test and step-down test results showed that 300

600 mg·kg-1 SEE could significantly improve the learning-memorizing ability (P < 0.05

P < 0.01)

increase SOD activities and decrease content of MDA (P < 0.05

P < 0.01)

and decrease the expressions of p19

p53 and p21 mRNA significantly in D-galactose induced brain aged mice (P < 0.05

P < 0.01).Linoleic acid-ferric thiocyanate method results showed that SEE could inhibit oxidation of linoleic acid after establishment of reaction system for 36 hours and its inhibition effect was higher than vitamin E. Oyaizu experiment showed that the reducing capacity of SEE on Fe3+ was stronger than vitamin E

with absorbance of 0.711. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that SEE could improve the learning-memorizing ability in D-galactose induced brain aged mice

and this effect may be related to its antioxidative activity and decrease of expressions of p19

p53 and p21 mRNA in the brain.