Protective effect of walnut on d-galactose-induced aging mouse model

Accumulating evidence has suggested that oxidative stress and apoptosis are involved in the aging process. d-galactose (gal) has been reported to cause symptoms of aging in mice, accompanied by liver and brain injuries. Our present work was to study the potential antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effects of walnut and to explore how these effects act on mice in a d-gal-induced aging model.

Aging mice were induced by subcutaneous injection of d-gal (200 mg kg^-1 d^-1 for 8 weeks). Walnut samples were simultaneously administered to the d-gal-induced aging mice once daily by intragastric gavage. Finally, body weight, organ index, cognitive function, levels of antioxidative enzymes, and liver function were monitored.

The kernel pellicles of walnut could not only improve the learning and memory ability, and the organ index, but also significantly decrease body weight and normalize the levels of activity of antioxidative enzymes in aging mice. Further, the walnut seed coat would protect damages of hippocampus and liver in aging mice.

In the current study, we investigated the effects of walnut kernels and walnut seed coats (WSCs) on d-galactose-induced aging mice. WSC was firstly found to have beneficial effects on d-gal-treated mouse's brain with learning and memory impairment, which probably through the underlying mechanism reduces oxidative damage and limits neuroinflammation. In addition, WSC had a protective effect on liver damage in d-galactose sensing mice.