(-)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases the stress-induced impairment of learning and memory in rats

Hung-Sheng Soung; Mao-Hsien Wang; Hsiang-Chien Tseng; Hsu-Wei Fang; Kuo-Chi Chang

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.035

(-)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases the stress-induced impairment of learning and memory in rats

Neurosci Lett. 2015 Aug 18:602:27-32. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.035. Epub 2015 Jun 27.

Authors

Hung-Sheng Soung¹, Mao-Hsien Wang², Hsiang-Chien Tseng³, Hsu-Wei Fang⁴, Kuo-Chi Chang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan, PR China; Department of Psychiatry, Yuan-Shan br. of Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Yilan County 26604, Taiwan, PR China.
² Department of Anesthesia, En-Chu-Kon Hospital, Sanxia District, New Taipei City 23702, Taiwan, PR China.
³ Department of Anesthesiology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 11101, Taiwan, PR China.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan, PR China.

PMID: 26126814
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.035

Abstract

Stress induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes alterations in brain cytoarchitecture and cognition. Green tea has potent antioxidative properties especially the tea catechin (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). These powerful antioxidative properties are able to protect against various oxidative damages. In this study we investigated the impact of stress on rats' locomotor activity, learning and memory. Many tea catechins, including EGCG, were examined for their possible therapeutic effects in treating stress-induced impairment. Our results indicated that locomotor activity was decreased, and the learning and memory were impaired in stressed rats (SRs). EGCG treatment was able to prevent the decreased locomotor activity as well as improve the learning and memory in SRs. EGCG treatment was also able to reduce the increased oxidative status in SRs' hippocampi. The above results suggest a therapeutic effect of EGCG in treating stress-induced impairment of learning and memory, most likely by means of its powerful antioxidative properties.

Keywords: (-) Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG); Learning and memory; Morris water maze and stress; Open field test.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antioxidants / pharmacology*
Antioxidants / therapeutic use
Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
Catechin / pharmacology
Catechin / therapeutic use
Hippocampus / drug effects
Hippocampus / metabolism
Learning Disabilities / drug therapy*
Learning Disabilities / etiology
Male
Maze Learning / drug effects
Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
Memory Disorders / etiology
Motor Activity / drug effects
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Restraint, Physical
Spatial Learning / drug effects
Stress, Psychological / complications
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism

Substances

Antioxidants
Reactive Oxygen Species
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Catechin
epigallocatechin gallate