2018-01-012024-05-17https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/694444摘要：老化係指隨著年齡增加而產生的生理功能衰退現象，包括純粹與年齡增長有關之功能衰退，以及伴隨年齡增長而發生疾病。老化包含了分子、細胞，以及系統方面的改變。分子與細胞的老化是由內在基因與外在環境等因素所造成；而系統的老化則是器官發生變化，如皮膚變硬、變粗，以及產生皺紋等變化。因此老化包括功能、行為，以及外表上的變化。據研究報告顯示，全美有730萬的家犬及600萬的家貓年齡超過11歲。老化影響伴侶動物之生活品質與健康甚鉅，與老化有關的疾病包括：癌症、腎臟病、神經退化、認知能力衰退、糖尿病、肥胖、白內障、心血管疾病，以及關節炎等。因此，飼主需耗費極多時間精力與費用來照護老齡伴侶動物。目前已有許多研究證實一些天然物質具有延緩衰老之保健功效，其原理主要為分解活性氧物質及調節生物體內之抗氧化防禦系統功能。中草藥的療效雖較緩慢，但其副作用低，因此，本計畫擬篩選具有自由基清除能力之中草藥，期能利用此些具有自由基清除能力之中草藥開發成伴侶動物健康食品，以延緩伴侶動物之衰老。<br> Abstract: Ageing represents the accumulation of physical, psychological, and social changes in an animal over time. It is estimated that 7.3 million dogs and 6 million cats are over the age of 11 years. Aging leads to declines in function of most organs and tissues. The age-associated diseases include many forms of cancer, kidney disease, neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, diabetes, obesity, cataracts, cardiac abnormalities, and osteoarthritis. Therefore, the hosts need to spend more time and money to care the senior animals. Many studies demonstrated that some compounds from natural sources possess anti-aging effects. The mechanisms include the reducing the reactive oxygen species and increasing the antioxidant defense system in the body. Most of the Chinese herbal medicines do not cause serious side effects as compared to the Western medicines. Therefore, this project is conducted to screen the Chinese herbal medicines with antioxidant activity, which will be further developed into an anti-aging functional food product for the companion animals.延緩衰老伴侶動物健康食品Anti-agingCompanion animalFunctional food