Antioxidant extract counteracts the effects of aging on cortical spreading depression and oxidative stress in the brain cortex

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Murici extract on the brain excitability-dependent phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD) and on brain oxidative stress. Methods: Adult and aged Wistar rats were supplemented with murici extract (150 mg/kg/day or 300 mg/kg/day) by gavage for fifteen days. Afterwards, the animals were submitted to a CSD electrophysiological recording and to brain oxidative stress evaluation. Results: Our results showed that aging decreased CSD propagation velocity, catalase activity and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) in the brain cortex of the rats, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The highest dose (300 mg/kg/day) of murici extract accelerated CSD, whereas the lowest (150mg/kg/day) decelerated, in both adult and aged animals. In contrast, aged animals supplemented with murici extract in both doses presented low MDA levels and high GSG/GSSG ratio in comparison to the control-aged animals. Conclusion: Murici extract supplementation seems to revert detrimental effects in aged brains and could be considered as a strategy in the treatment of pathologies related to aging and cortical spreading depression.