The anti-aging effect and the chemical constituents of Cynomorium songaricum Rupr.

Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. is a classic Mongolian pharmaceutical plant. It is distributed over the desert zone of western China, such as the province of Inner Mongolia. It usually parasitizes the roots of Nitrarias. The succulent stems are used as Mongolian medicines in which the pharmacological properties are very similar to Herba Cistanches. In traditional Chinese medicine, its efficacy was described as reinforcing the "kidney," enhancing yang, and lubricating the bowels. The expectation is that C. songaricum will replace Herba Cistanches in some usages. The significant constituents in medicinal preparations of C. songaricum are catechin (flavonoid), ursolic acid and oleanolic acid (triterpenoids), polysaccharides and tannides. The pharmacological properties of C. songaricum include: enhance sexual function; improve the function of the kidney; clear free-radicals; anti-oxidation; anti-anoxia; anti-stress; anti-fatigue; stimulate immunologic function; anti-coagulant effect; anti-HIV virus; lubricate and relax the bowels. Modern research shows properties similar to the traditional descriptions of this plant from hundreds of years ago. The pharmacological properties are attributed to various principal constituents of C. songaricum, such as catechin, binding tannides, polysaccharides, iron, zinc, etc. The objective of this work is to study the effects of anti-aging by C. songaricum which are the most closely related to the constituents.