ReferenceID 1818

Stimulatory effects of (-)-epicatechin and its enantiomer (+)-epicatechin on mouse frontal cortex neurogenesis markers and short-term memory: proof of concept

Food Funct

Consumption of (-)-epicatechin (Epi), a cacao flavanol improves cognition. The aim was to compare the effects of (-)-Epi or its stereoisomer (+)-Epi on mouse frontal cortex-dependent short-term working memory and modulat

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Reference Id
1818
Evidence Id
18408
Core Evidence Id
18408
Source Reference Id
3619
Herb2 Reference Id
HBREF004416
Subject Paper Key
HBIN025288_33900336
Pubmed Id
33900336
Doi
10.1039/d0fo03084h
Paper Title
Stimulatory effects of (-)-epicatechin and its enantiomer (+)-epicatechin on mouse frontal cortex neurogenesis markers and short-term memory: proof of concept
Paper Abstract
Consumption of (-)-epicatechin (Epi), a cacao flavanol improves cognition. The aim was to compare the effects of (-)-Epi or its stereoisomer (+)-Epi on mouse frontal cortex-dependent short-term working memory and modulators of neurogenesis. Three-month-old male mice (n = 7 per group) were provided by gavage either water (vehicle; Veh), (-)-Epi, at 1 mg kg-1 or (+)-Epi at 0.1 mg per kg of body weight for 15 days. After treatment, spontaneous alternation was evaluated by Y-maze. Brain frontal cortex was isolated for nitrate/nitrite measurements, Western blotting for nerve growth factor (NGF), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2), endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and nNOS) and immunohistochemistry for neuronal specific protein (NeuN), doublecortin (DCX), capillary (CD31) and neurofilaments (NF200). Results demonstrate the stimulatory capacity of (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi on markers of neuronal proliferation as per increases in immunoreactive cells for NeuN (74 and 120% respectively), DCX (70 and 124%) as well as in NGF (34.4, 63.6%) and MAP2 (41.8, 63.8%). Capillary density yielded significant increases with (-)-Epi (~80%) vs. (+)-Epi (~160%). CD31 protein levels increased with (-)-Epi (~70%) and (+)-Epi (~140%). Effects correlated with nitrate/nitrite stimulation by (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (110.2, 246.5%) and enhanced eNOS phosphorylation (Ser1177) with (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (21.4, 41.2%) while nNOS phosphorylation only increased with (+)-Epi (18%). Neurofilament staining was increased in (-)-Epi by 135.6 and 84% with (+)-Epi. NF200 increased with (-)-Epi (116%) vs. (+)-Epi (84.5%). Frontal cortex-dependent short-term spatial working improved with (-)-Epi and (+)-Epi (15, 13%). In conclusion, results suggest that both enantiomers, but more effectively (+)-Epi, upregulate neurogenesis markers likely through stimulation of capillary formation and NO triggering, improvements in memory.
Journal
Food Funct
Publish Year
2021
Experiment Subject
mouse
Experiment Type
Animal Experiment
Phenotype Related
Paper Title Cn
Paper Title En
Stimulatory effects of (-)-epicatechin and its enantiomer (+)-epicatechin on mouse frontal cortex neurogenesis markers and short-term memory: proof of concept
Bilingual Status
semi_complete