Laboratory of Neurophysiology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Nutrients. 2024 Jan 26;16(3):368. doi: 10.3390/nu16030368.
Aging is a normal physiological process influenced by the combination of multiple mechanisms, primarily oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, which impact general physiology and brain function. Phenolic compounds have demonstrated the ability to slow down the aging process of the brain due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study assessed the protective properties of catechin and polyphenon-60 in non-pathologically aged rats regarding visuo-spatial learning and the oxidative status of the frontal cortex. Old animals were treated with catechin or green tea extract (polyphenon-60) for 36 days, daily. Healthy old and young rats were used as controls. During the first training phase, treated rats executed the test better, locating the target in less time compared with the controls. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (catalase activities, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase) were reduced in the brain of old animals, although their activities were partially improved after both antioxidant treatments. Furthermore, the rise in the production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels-a marker of lipid peroxidation-in the frontal cortex of aged animals was significantly ameliorated after the interventions. In conclusion, old rats exhibited enhanced cognitive function and reduced stress levels following the administration of catechin and polyphenon-60.
衰老是一个受多种机制共同影响的正常生理过程，主要是氧化应激和神经炎症，它们会影响整体生理和大脑功能。酚类化合物具有抗氧化和抗炎作用，能够减缓大脑衰老过程。本研究评估了儿茶素和多酚 60 在非病理性老年大鼠中的保护特性，研究对象为视空间学习和前额叶皮质的氧化状态。老年动物接受儿茶素或绿茶提取物（多酚 60）治疗 36 天，每天一次。健康的老年和年轻大鼠作为对照。在第一训练阶段，与对照组相比，接受治疗的大鼠完成测试的用时更短，定位目标的速度更快。尽管两种抗氧化剂治疗后部分改善了大脑中的氧化应激生物标志物（过氧化氢酶活性、超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶和谷胱甘肽 S-转移酶）的活性，但老年动物大脑中的这些生物标志物活性降低。此外，干预后，老年动物前额叶皮质中活性氧的产生和丙二醛水平（脂质过氧化的标志物）的升高显著改善。总之，给予儿茶素和多酚 60 后，老年大鼠的认知功能增强，应激水平降低。
