Ameliorative Effect of D-α-Tocopherol Acetate Complexes on D-Galactose-Induced Aging in Mice

To investigate the ameliorative effect of the D-α-tocopheryl acetate compound on D-galactose-induced aging in mice, the in vitro antioxidant capacity of the compound of natural oils+phytosterols (VEO), the compound of D-α-tocopheryl acetate+phytosterol (VEZ), and the compound of D-α-tocopheryl acetat+phytosterol+astaxanthin (VEX) were measured. The aging model was established using mice injected with D-galactose on the back of the neck, while the intervention was carried out with different compounds. The results showed that all three groups of compounds had strong antioxidant effects, with the VEZ group showing better in vitro antioxidant effects. Compared with the aging model mice, the intervention of the three compounds increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) (P<0.01), and a decrease in the serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and liver function indicators alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). After the intervention, the mRNA and protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in mice were significantly enhanced (P<0.0001). This indicated that the different combinations exerted their antioxidant effects through up-regulating the expression of Nrf2, NQO-1 and HO-1, thus achieving anti-aging effects, with the VEZ group showing the best expression effect. In conclusion, D-α-Tocopheryl acetate complex achieved their anti-aging effects by increasing the expression of antioxidant-related mRNAs and proteins, thus enhancing the levels of downstream antioxidant enzymes, among which D-α-tocopheryl acetate was more effective when combined with phytosterols.