To study the anti-aging effect and underlying mechanism of partially hydrolyzed fenugreek gum (PHFG) on naturally aging mice.

PHFG, prepared with β-mannanase, was used to dietary intervention in naturally aging mice for 12 months, and then the pathological changes of brain, liver, kidney and colon tissues were observed. Furthermore, the contents of aging markers, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum were measured. The total number of neurons, and the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and p53/p21/p16 pathway associated genes and proteins were detected.

PHFG effectively increased the survival rate of aging mice (approximately 25.0%), and significantly improved their reactivity and depilation. The levels of T-AOC, CAT and GSH-Px in PHFG-treated mice increased by 78.1% (P < 0.05), 122.9% (P < 0.05) and 2.7%, respectively, compared with the naturally aging ones, while the MDA content decreased by 40.3% (P < 0.01). Moreover, PHFG increased the numbers of neurons and BDNF positive cells in the hippocampus CA1 area and inhibited the expression levels of the p53, p21 and p16 genes and p53 and p16 proteins in the liver.

PHFG can prevent aging, and inhibit oxidative stress and brain damage induced by aging, which provides a scientific basis for PHFG as an anti-aging functional food ingredient.