Evaluating the combined antioxidant effects of Juglans regia (walnut) and Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry)

South Korean researchers evaluated the combined antioxidant effects of a Juglans regia (walnut) and Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) in a d-galactose-induced aging model. They reported their findings in an article published in Nutrition Research.

• Many studies link cellular damage to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aging.
• D-galactose, a reducing sugar, is said to cause aging-related changes and oxidative stress.
• The oxidation of lipids — the primary targets of free radicals — is also related to aging.
• The kernel of J. regia is rich in antioxidant phenolic compounds, while A. melanocarpa is said to be one of the richest sources of polyphenols, including anthocyanins, among fruits.
• Research shows that the polyphenols in A. melanocarpa have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• To test the cumulative effects of J. regia and A. melanocarpa antioxidant compounds on oxidative stress and aging, the researchers included both in the diet of their mouse model.
• They divided 35 eight-week-old mice into the following groups:
  • Normal control, C
  • D-galactose control, D
  • D-galactose with chokeberry diet, CH
  • D-galactose with walnut diet, W
  • D-galactose with walnut and chokeberry diet, WCH
• The researchers reported that all the treatment groups had significantly lower serum, hepatic and renal malonaldehyde levels than group D.
• In fact, the levels of these parameters were almost the same as those of the control.
• The renal malondialdehyde levels of the WCH group were significantly lower than those of group C.
• Meanwhile, the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels of the WCH group were significantly higher than those of the W or CH groups.
• These findings suggest that J. regia and A. melanocarpa can increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes in the liver.

The researchers concluded that J. regia and A. melanocarpa can attenuate lipid peroxidation in the blood, liver and kidneys associated with d-galactose-induced aging.

Journal Reference:

Song EK, Park H, Kim HS. ADDITIVE EFFECT OF WALNUT AND CHOKEBERRY ON REGULATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME GENE EXPRESSION AND ATTENUATION OF LIPID PEROXIDATION IN D-GALACTOSE-INDUCED AGING-MOUSE MODEL. Nutrition Research. October 2019;70:60–69. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.09.011