Red mold rice promoted antioxidase activity against oxidative injury and improved the memory ability of zinc-deficient rats.
Zn deficiency is a common disease leading to memory impairment with increasing age. This study evaluated the protection effects of red mold rice (RMR) administration and Zn supplementation against memory and learning ability impairments from oxidative stress caused by Zn deficiency. Rats (4 weeks old) were induced to be Zn deficiency by a Zn-deficient diet for 12 weeks. After that, rats were administered Zn, 1xRMR, 5xRMR, and various dosages of RMR plus Zn, respectively. Decreases of antioxidant enzyme activities in the hippocampus and cortex were observed, and the levels of Ca, Fe, and Mg were increased in the hippocampus and cortex of Zn-deficient rats, leading to memory and learning ability injury. However, the administration of RMR (1- or 5-fold dosage) and with or without Zn significantly improved the antioxidase and neural activity to maintain cortex and hippocampus functions. This study demonstrates that RMR is a possible functional food for the prevention or cure of neural injury associated with Zn deficiency.
Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Bao-Hong
BH
Lee
Bing-Ying
BY
Ho
Chin-Thin
CT
Wang
Tzu-Ming
TM
Pan
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D004032:Diet; D005285:Fermentation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D032741:Monascus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency*
D000975:Antioxidants; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium