Objective: To study the effects of Busheng Liaogeng extract on β-endorphin(β-EP) in the hypothalamus and free radicals of rat model in menopause

and explore the mechanism of action. Method: Climacteric syndrome models were established by surgical removal of the bilateral ovaries of female SD rats. After successful modeling by vaginal smears test

the rats were randomly divided into normal group

sham operation group

model group

estradiol valerate tablets group (0.18 mg·kg-1)

Kuntai capsule group (1.08 g·kg-1)

Busheng Liaogeng extract low

medium and high dose groups (4.5

9

18 g·kg-1)

n=10 in each group. The rats in various treatment groups received ig administration according to corresponding doses

once daily for 4 weeks

and the rats in control group

sham operation group and model group were ig administered with the same volume of distilled water. 24 h after the last administration

abdominal aortic blood was taken to measure serum superoxide dismutase (SOD)

glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA)content using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA) method

and hypothalamus was taken to measure β-EP content. Result: Compared with the normal group

serum SOD

and GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in model group (P<0.01)

MDA content was significantly higher (P<0.01)

and hypothalamus β-EP content was significantly lower(P<0.01).Compared with the model group

serum SOD and GSH-Px activity in Busheng Liaogeng extract high-dose and middle-dose group were significantly higher (P<0.01)

MDA content was significantly lower (P<0.01

P<0.05)

hypothalamus β-EP content was significantly higher (P<0.05)

and serum GSH-Px in Busheng Liaogeng extract low dose group was significantly higher (P<0.05). Conclusion: Busheng Liaogeng extract can regulate hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis functions by adjusting the level of hypothalamus β-EP in ovariectomized rats;and increase antioxidant capacity by adjusting SOD

MDA

and GSH-Px levels in blood

with a delayed menopause role for oxidative aging process.