Aqueous Extracts of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) and Nelumbo nucifera Seeds Reduce Plasma Corticosterone Levels, Gastric Lesions, and c-fos Immunoreactivity in Chronic Restraint-stressed Mice

초록

In the present study, chronic effects of the hot water extracts of walnut seed (Juglans regia L.) (WSE) and Nelumbo nucifera seed (NSE) were investigated in mice exposed to 2 hr of restraint stress each day for 4 weeks. Corticosterone levels in serum were significantly increased in the vehicle-treated stressed group (25 μg/dL) compared to that in the control group (13 μg/dL). This stress induced gastric redness and lesions. However, treatment with WSE and/or NSE significantly protected the stomach from this lesion by 50-60% compared to that in the vehicle-treated group. In the amygdala, the administration of WSE and/or NSE also reduced the immediate early gene (c-fos) expression by 70-90% vs. the vehicletreated group. These suggest that WSE and/or NSE may reduce the appearance of symptoms induced by stress and these materials are useful as anti-stress foods, as natural products tend to be relatively safe compared to chemical products.

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