Table 1.

The functions and mechanisms of Herba Cistanches extracts with anti-aging or anti-aging related effects.

Extracts	Function	Mechanisms	Refs.
Ethanol extract of Herba Cistanches	Lifespan elongation	antagonize immunosenescence, exhibit analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, improve blood circulation, increase the weights of the seminal vesicle, prostate gland and testes, modulate serum hormone level, induct testicular steroidogenic enzymes, delay accumulation of lactic acid, improve energy storage	[23-31,36]
	Cardioprotection	reduce oxidative stress, inhibit apoptotic pathways, enhance mitochondrial ATP-GC and confer cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury	[32,34]
	Neuroprotection	increase neuronal cell differentiation, neurite length, and synapse formation, upregulate NGF	[33]
Aqueous extract of Herba Cistanches	Lifespan elongation	inhibit cell apoptosis	[38]
	Antioxidant activity	inhibit activation of macrophage cells and nitric oxide production, scavenge free radicals	[37,39]
	Hepatoprotection	inhibit lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes	[39]
	Anti-neoplastic effect	upregulate nitric oxide synthase II expression, stimulate phagocytosis	[40]
	Memory and learning enhancement	block Aβ 1-42 amyloid deposition	[41]
	Anti-osteoporosis effect	regulate bone metabolism related genes e.g., Smad1, Smad5, TGF-β1 and TIEG1	[42-44]
	Aphrodisiac effect	alleviate spermatogenetic cell degeneration, modulate serum sex hormones levels	[45-46]
Methanol extract of Herba Cistanches	Cardioprotection	enhance mitochondrial glutathione status, decrease mitochondrial Ca2+ level, decrease myocardial ATP depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration rate	[47-48]
	Vasorelaxant activity	inhibit contractions induced by noradrenaline	[49]
	Hepatoprotection	inhibit D-GalN-induced death of hepatocytes, reduce TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells	[49]