Abstract: AIM: To investigate the protective effect of water extract of Purslane herb on telomere length in senile mouse. METHODS: The senile mouse models induced by D-gal were divided randomly into five groups: normal control group, 3 experimental groups and model group.Animals were fed with normal diet in control and model groups and with normal diet plus 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g/mL water extract of Purslane herb respectively in experimental groups.The telomerase activation of senile mouse brain was detected by PCR-TRAP-ELISA.The lengths of telomeric restriction fragments (TRFs) were detected by southern-blot assay.The mRNA and protein expression levels of c-myc and p53 gene were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. RESULTS: The telomerase activity in senile mouse brain was significantly increased after treated with water extract of purslane herb.The telomere length in senile mouse brain was improved by water extract of purslane herb.The expression of p53 gene was decreased and c-myc gene was not activated. CONCLUSION: Water extract of purslane herb has possibly delayed the aging of senile mouse through inhibiting the p53 gene expression and activating the telomerase to protect the length of telomere in brain.

Key words: water extract of purslane herb, telomere, telomerase, c-myc gene, p53 gene