Abstract
Antioxidant dietary intervention is considered a potential strategy in delaying age-related dysfunctions. In this study of 56 days, we assessed the antioxidant effects of walnut kernel (WK) and walnut septum extract (WSE) in a D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging model and in a naturally aged rat model. Young Wistar rats, treated with D-gal (1200 mg/week), and old rats received daily WK or WSE added to the feed. After 8 weeks, blood, liver, and brain samples were collected and hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress biomarkers, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase activity was investigated in brain homogenates. The outcomes demonstrated significant improvement in cellular antioxidant activity and/or decrease of reactive oxygen species, advanced glycation end products, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, or increase of glutathione after WK or WSE intake in both models. Additionally, WSE showed hypoglycemic effect, and both WK and WSE lowered acetylcholinesterase activity. Both diets could protect neurons against the induced senescence and could reverse the pathological conditions in the physiological aged brain. Thus, dietary supplementation with WK or WSE can maintain the liver and brain health and reduce the risk of age-related diseases, as well as delaying the onset of aging processes.
Highlights
Aging is a multifactorial process, not yet fully understood, defined by a gradual deterioration in physiological functions that affects multiple organs
Only administration of walnut kernel (WK) prevented the atrophy of the studied organs. These results revealed that repeated administration of D-gal for 56 days reduced the weight of the animals, an outcome that could be attributed to aging and loss of muscle mass, but the diet containing 9% WK or walnut septum extract (WSE) maintained normal body weight
The present study evaluated the antioxidant and antiaging potential of food supplementation with walnuts or walnut septum extract in a model of D-gal-induced aging and in physiologically aged rats
Summary
Aging is a multifactorial process, not yet fully understood, defined by a gradual deterioration in physiological functions that affects multiple organs. It is the leading risk factor for a range of pathological conditions with important morbidity and mortality. Diet supplementation with tree nuts revealed protective effects by slowing the aging process and inhibiting associated-diseases [2]. Walnut (Juglans regia L.), a crop with an important economic value, represents a source of nutritional and nutraceutical compounds with recognized antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties [3]. Leaf, and green husk, sources of health-protective compounds [4,5], the walnut septum represents another valuable by-product
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