PROTECTIVE ROLE OF EITHER GINGER OR LIPOIC ACID IN SENILE FEMALE RATS

摘要

Aging is associated with neurodegenerative disorders. The dysregulation of brain lipid metabolism might contribute to the mechanisms of aging and Alzheimer's disease. The study aiming to evaluate the change in the different free fatty acids content, free calcium ion content and total antioxidant activity in senile female rat's brain and the possible protective effect of either ginger or alpha lipoic acid. The experimental groups (n=6/group) administered orally for four weeks and classified into: 1- Control adult female rats group and 2- Senile female group (both groups) received 1 ml/100 g b.wt. 0.5 g/100 ml CMC. 3- Senile ginger group received 250 mg/kg ginger. 4- Senile lipoic treated group administered 65 mg/kg lipoic acid. Following the completion of the experiments, rats sacrificed by rapid decapitation and cortex and hippocampus dissected out for the determination of free fatty acids by Gas Liquid Chromatography and total antioxidant capacity calorimetrically. In addition, the colorimetric determination of cortex free calcium ions content was evaluated. The results suggested protective effect of ginger and alpha lipoic acid in senile female rats through modulation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and the total antioxidant capacity in cortex and hippocampus as well as the cortical free calcium ions content that could protect the senile rats from ageing diseases.