title: Effects of walnuts (Juglans regia) on learning and memory functions.
abstract: Walnut has been regarded as a health food that is delicious and nutritious. Both preventive and therapeutic effects of walnut are well documented. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are reported to have beneficial effects on brain function. The present work was designed to evaluate the effects of walnuts on learning and memory in male rats. The effect of oral intake of walnut was also monitored on food intake. Walnut was given orally to rats for a period of 28 days. Memory function in rats was assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) and radial arm maze (RAM). A significant improvement in learning and memory of walnut treated rats compared to controls was observed. Walnut treated rats also exhibited a significant decrease in food intake while the change in growth rate (in terms of percentage) remained comparable between the two groups. Analysis of brain monoamines exhibited enhanced serotonergic levels in rat brain following oral intake of walnuts. The findings suggest that walnut may exert its hypophagic and nootropic actions via an enhancement of brain 5-HT metabolism.
authors: Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. saida-h1@hotmail.com
authors: Saida
authors: S
authors: Haider
authors: Zehra
authors: Z
authors: Batool
authors: Saiqa
authors: S
authors: Tabassum
authors: Tahira
authors: T
authors: Perveen
authors: Sadia
authors: S
authors: Saleem
authors: Fizza
authors: F
authors: Naqvi
authors: Huma
authors: H
authors: Javed
authors: Darakhshan J
authors: DJ
authors: Haleem
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D031324:Juglans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan