Inhibiting NF-κB activation and ROS production are involved in the mechanism of silibinin's protection against D-galactose-induced senescence

► The decreased level of autophage was involved in D-galactose-induced murine senescence and the adjustment of autophagy was associated with NF-kB activation. ► The damaged oxidoreductase activities associated with the disorder of autophagy regulation in hippocampal neurons of D-galactose-induced senescent mice were founded in this study. ► Silibinin promoted the cellular oxidoreductase activities, upregulated the level of autophagy in hippocampal neurons, and reversed the impaired spatial recognition memory and escaping reaction acquisition of senescent mice via inhibiting NF-kB activation and ROS production.