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Effects of Defatted Walnut Meal on Learning and Memory Ability and Antioxidant Capacity of Rats

FAN Yong-bo,TAO Xing-wu*,MA Lin,LIU Lie-ju,LIU Zhi-guo,WANG Li-mei   

  1. Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
  • Online:2013-09-15 Published:2013-09-27
  • Contact: TAO Xing-wu

Abstract:

Objective: To explore the effect of defatted walnut meal on learning and memory ability and antioxidant capacity in
rats and its corresponding mechanisms. Methods: Totally 64 rats were randomly divided into eight groups: normal feed group,
defatted soybean meal (2.5 g/(kg•d)) group, walnut oil (2.5 mL/(kg•d)) group, walnut (3.0 g/(kg•d))) group and defatted walnut
meal groups at doses of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 g/(kg•d) and 4.0 g/(kg•d). Following continuous feeding for 60 days, Step-down and
Morris water maze tests were used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of rats. The contents of superoxide dismutase
(SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in brain tissues of rats were
determined. Results: Moderate consumption of defatted walnut meal could greatly improve the performance of Step-down and
Morris water maze tests, increase the activities of SOD and AChE in brain tissues of rats and reduce MDA level. Conclusion:
Defatted walnut meal can obviously improve the learning and memory abilities and antioxidant capacity of rats.

Key words: defatted walnut meal, learning and memory, antioxidant, step-down test, Morris water maze test

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