Grape Seed Extract Decreases Oxidation in Brain

Grape Seed Extract Decreases Oxidation in Brain

MADRAS, India--According to research published in the August issue of Neuroscience Letters (3, 383:295-300, 2005), grape seed extract both enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in the central nervous system of aged rats.

Indian researchers divided male albino rats of Wistar strain into four groups: young control rats (Group I), young rats treated with grape seed extract (100 mg/kg) for 30 days (Group II), aged control rats (Group III), and aged rats supplemented with grape seed extract (100 mg/kg) for 30 days (Group IV). Age-associated increase in lipid peroxidation was observed in the spinal cord, cerebral cortex, striatum and the hippocampus regions of aged rats (Group III). Activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and levels of non-enzymic antioxidants including reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E were found to be significantly decreased in all the brain regions studied in aged rats when compared to young rats. However, normalized lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defenses were reported in the grape seed extract-supplemented aged rats.

Researchers concluded grape seed extract enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in the central nervous system of aged rats.