Effect of black mulberry (Morus nigra) extract treatment on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress status of D-galactose-induced aging mice.
BACKGROUND
Morus nigra L. (Moraceae) has various uses in traditional medicine. However, the effect of M. nigra on cognitive impairment has not been investigated yet.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine the phenolic acid content and DNA damage protection potential of M. nigra leaf extract and to investigate the extract effect on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in aging mice.


METHODS
Phenolic acid content was determined by quantitative chromatographic analysis. DNA damage protection potential was evaluated on pBR322 plasmid DNA. Thirty-two Balb-C mice were randomly divided into four groups (control, d-galactose, d-galactose + M. nigra 50, and d-galactose + M. nigra 100). Mice were administered d-galactose (100 mg/kg, subcutaneous) and M. nigra (50 or 100 mg/kg, orally) daily for 8 weeks. Behavioral responses were evaluated with Morris water maze. Activities of antioxidant enzymes and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed in serum, brain, and liver.


RESULTS
In extract, vanillic (632.093 μg/g) and chlorogenic acids (555.0 μg/g) were determined. The extract between 0.02 and 0.05 mg/mL effectively protected all DNA bands against the hazardous effect of UV and H2O2. Morus nigra significantly improved learning dysfunctions (p < 0.01), increased memory retention (p < 0.01), reduced MDA levels (p < 0.05), and elevated SOD, GPx, and CAT activities (p < 0.05) compared with the d-galactose group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that M. nigra has the potential in improving cognitive deficits in mice and that M. nigra may be useful to suppress aging, partially due to its scavenging activity of free radicals and high antioxidant capacity.
a Department of Pharmacology , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Pharmacy , Sivas , Turkey ;
Nergiz Hacer
NH
Turgut
b Department of Psychiatry , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine , Sivas , Turkey ;
Derya Guliz
DG
Mert
c Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Sivas , Turkey ;
Haki
H
Kara
d Department of Pathology , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine , Sivas , Turkey ;
Hatice Reyhan
HR
Egilmez
c Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Sivas , Turkey ;
Emre
E
Arslanbas
e Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , Kilis University Faculty of Science and Literature , Kilis , Turkey ;
Bektas
B
Tepe
c Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Sivas , Turkey ;
Huseyin
H
Gungor
f Department of Food Engineering , Faculty of Engineering, Canakkale 18 Mart University , Canakkale , Turkey.
Nese
N
Yilmaz
f Department of Food Engineering , Faculty of Engineering, Canakkale 18 Mart University , Canakkale , Turkey.
Necati Baris
NB
Tuncel
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005690:Galactose / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005690:Galactose
Antioxidant; learning; memory retention; phenolic acid