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Green tea improves hippocampal oxidative status during aging
Author(s) -
Assunção Marco,
SantosMarques Maria João,
Carvalho Félix,
Andrade José Paulo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.890.27
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , glutathione peroxidase , chemistry , glutathione , superoxide dismutase , malondialdehyde , glutathione reductase , antioxidant , hippocampal formation , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , glutathione disulfide , pro oxidant , enzyme , biology
Aging is associated with disruption of the redox balance leading to oxidative stress. Studies have suggested that dietary antioxidants may modify cellular redox status. As green tea (GT) contains large amounts of catechins, we intended to examine the effects of its intake on hippocampal formation redox status, a brain region especially prone to oxidative events during aging. Five 12‐month old male Wistar rats were fed with GT as the only liquid source for 7 months and results were compared to those from 12 (C12) and 19 months old (C19) controls. Oxidative markers (protein carbonyls, malondialdehyde, GSH and GSSG) and antioxidant enzyme activities [glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), Se‐dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se‐GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] were measured in hippocampal homogenates. GT protected hippocampal proteins and lipids against oxidation and increased GSH and decreased GSSG levels when compared to C19 rats. GR and GST were decreased by GT relatively to C19 group. There was an age‐dependent decrease in Se‐GPX that could not be altered by GT intake, whereas SOD was similar in C12 and C19 rats, being significantly increased after GT treatment. The global results confirm the neuroprotective ability of GT, showing its hippocampal specific action probably due to attenuation of age‐related redox changes. Granted by Unit 121/94 and SFRH/BD/19497/2004 from FCT.