Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Zibushenjing Fang (formula for tonifying the kidney essence) on skeletal development and brain tissue antioxidation in mice with kidney essence insufficiency. METHODS: Fifty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, model group, Jinkuishenqi Wan group, Zibushenjing Fang high dose group, and Zibushenjing Fang low dose group, with 10 mice in each group. The model of kidney essence insufficiency syndrome was established in all the mice except the normal group by using a cat to threaten the mice and by swimming until exhaustion daily which lasted about 21 days. Mice in the model group were administered 20 mL/ kg -1 · d -1 of normal saline intragastrically. The Jinkuishenqi Wan group was given 2.7 g/kg-1 · d-1 ofa solution of Jinkuishenqi Wan. The Zibushenjing Fang high dose group was given 20 g/kg -1 · d -1 and the Zibushenjing Fang low dose group was given 10 g/kg -1 · d -1 of a solution of Zibushenjing Fang.The general condition of all the groups was observed, including the quantity of food and water intake, swimming time, length of femur, and weight of the femur and musculus quadriceps femoris. The total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxi- dase (GSH-Px), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) activities in the brain tissues were detected. RESULTS: Zibushenjing Fang could improve the manifestation of kidney essence insufficiency, increase the quantity of food and water intake, swimming time, femur length, and femur and musculus quadriceps femoris weight. It could also regulate the activities of T-SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA in brain tissue. CONCLUSION: Zibushenjing Fang may play an important role in treating kidney essence insufficiency syndrome by promoting body development and improving brain tissue antioxidation.

Key words: Deficiency of kidney essence, Antioxidants, Zibushenjing Fang