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This study was designed to investigate the effects of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf extract (MLE) on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in brain membranes of rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (160±10 g) were fed basic diet (control group), and experimental diets (MLE-100 and MLE-300 groups) added 100 and 300 mg/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. Hydroxyl radical (·OH) lecels resulted in significant decreases (13.4% and 21.1%, 12.0% and 13.4%, respectively) in brain mitochondria and microsome of MLE-100 and MLE-300 groups compared with control group. Superoxide radical (O₂) levels were significantly decreased about 12% in brain cytosol of MLE-300 group compared with control group. Lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were effectively inhibited (18.1% and 12.3%, respectively) in brain mitochondria and microsomes of MLE-300 groups compared with control group. Oxidized protein (OP) levels were significantly decreased (14.2%, and 10.9%, respectively) in brain mitochondria and microsomes of MLE-300 groups compared with control group. Mn-SOD activities in brain mitochondria were significantly increased (13.5% and 18.6%, respectively) in MLE-100 and MLE-300 groups, and Cu/Zn-SOD activities in brain cytosol were also effectively increased (about 17.7%) in MLE-300 groups compared with control group. GSHPx activities in brain cytosol were remarkably increased (17.2% and 23.9%, respectively) in MLE-100 and MLE-300 groups compared with control group. These results suggest that anti-aging effect of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) may play a pivotal role in attenuating a various age-related changes in brain.
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