[A clinical study of the effect of wuzi yanzong solution in retarding aging process].

Eighty men ranging from 60 to 80 years old were selected, in whom no disease was found through a thorough check-up except for some senility manifestation diagnosed as deficiency of the kidney. They were randomly divided into two groups, wuzi yanzong solution (WYS) being administered in 50 cases and placebo in 30. After 5 weeks' treatment, symptoms such as hypomnsis, tinnitus, and aching of the back and legs, dribbling after urinary voiding, and nocturia were remarkably improved in the WYS group, but they remained as before in the placebo group. Before the treatment, plasma lipid peroxide (LPO), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) levels were determined. In comparison with the results obtained in 33 young men in their twenties, LPO, FSH, LH level and E2/T ratio in the aged were greatly elevated, and SOD, GSH-Px and T markedly lowered. After the treatment, there was remarkable reduction of LPO and E2/T, and increase of SOD and T in the WYS group, but no significant change in the placebo group. The above results not only indicate the beneficial effect of WYS in retarding the aging process, but also suggest the possible mechanism of reducing the peroxidation of fatty acids by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes to inhibit free radical activity.