Geriforte, an herbomineral compound prepared from several herbs and minerals, is being used as a restorative tonic to solve the problems of old age in India. Since
active oxygen species have been proposed to be involved in the aging process of the brain, alterations in the level of
enzymes involved in the defense system against
free radicals and other
active oxygen species could substantially influence the aging process. Therefore, in the present study, this antistress adaptogenic Ayurvedic preparation has been evaluated for the activities of
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
catalase (CAT), key
enzymes of the cellular defense system, in the brain of aging Wistar male rats. The present study was carried out on 22-month-old rats. They were given
Geriforte powder orally at a dosage
of 900 mg/kg
body weight once a day for two months. The
Geriforte-treated rat brain had significantly high levels of SOD and CAT activities than those recorded in their respective controls. The contents of SOD and CAT in
Geriforte-administered brain increased by 24% and 30%, respectively. In the present investigation,
free radical damage was assessed by measuring
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (
TBARS) in postmitochondrial fractions of brain homogenate. The magnitude of
TBARS has been reported to be decreased by 26% in the
Geriforte-treated rat brain. In conclusion, it seems logical to suppose that
Geriforte, a combination of several plant ingredients and minerals, protects the body against the damaging effects of
free radicals by producing large amounts of
antioxidant enzymes.