Laboratory of Functional Chemistry and Nutrition of Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Food Funct. 2018 Nov 14;9(11):5912-5924. doi: 10.1039/c8fo01436a.
Oxidative stress is considered as a pivotal culprit in neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging. The aim of present study was to investigate antioxidative and neuroprotective effects of sesamol, a phenolic lignan from sesame oil, on oxidative stress induced neuron damage and memory impairments. C57BL/6J mice were treated by intraperitoneal injections of d-galactose for 8 weeks. Sesamol treatment (0.05% w/v, in drinking water) suppressed d-galactose-induced liver damages and improved HO-1 and NQO1 mRNA levels. Behavioral tests, including Y-maze test and water maze-test, revealed that sesamol significantly improved oxidative stress-induced cognitive impairments. Meanwhile, sesamol ameliorated neuronal damage and improved BDNF level in rat hippocampus. Sesamol elevated mRNA levels and protein expressions of antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO1 as well as decreased inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in d-galactose-treated mice serum. In addition, activity of CAT and GSH level were increased in sesamol-treated mice serum. Moreover, sesamol treatment also balanced cellular redox status, protected mitochondrial dysfunction and upregulated antioxidant enzymes by activating the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway and its nuclear translocation in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, these results revealed that sesamol could be a potential neuroprotective agent during aging process due to its beneficial effects on liver-brain axis.
氧化应激被认为是神经退行性疾病和大脑衰老的关键罪魁祸首。本研究旨在探讨芝麻酚（芝麻油中的一种酚类木质素）对氧化应激诱导的神经元损伤和记忆障碍的抗氧化和神经保护作用。C57BL/6J 小鼠通过腹腔注射半乳糖 8 周。芝麻酚治疗（0.05%w/v，饮用水）抑制半乳糖诱导的肝损伤，提高 HO-1 和 NQO1 mRNA 水平。行为测试，包括 Y 迷宫测试和水迷宫测试，表明芝麻酚显著改善了氧化应激引起的认知障碍。同时，芝麻酚改善了大鼠海马神经元损伤和 BDNF 水平。芝麻酚增加了抗氧化酶 HO-1 和 NQO1 的 mRNA 水平和蛋白表达，并降低了半乳糖处理小鼠血清中的炎症细胞因子 TNF-α和 IL-1β。此外，CAT 活性和 GSH 水平在芝麻酚处理的小鼠血清中增加。此外，芝麻酚处理还通过激活 H2O2 处理的 SH-SY5Y 细胞中的 Nrf2 转录途径及其核易位，平衡细胞氧化还原状态，保护线粒体功能障碍，并上调抗氧化酶。总之，这些结果表明，芝麻酚由于其对肝脑轴的有益作用，可能是衰老过程中一种潜在的神经保护剂。
