Hesperidin provides synergistic effect in conferring neuroprotection to rats maintained on a regimen of alternate day fasting

Background. Alternate day fasting (ADF) is a beneficial dietary intervention that reduces age- associated complications. Hesperidin is a potential antioxidant especially known for free radical scavenging ability. Oxidative damages are a major cause of neurological changes in brain that accelerates deteriorative effects leading to aging. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the role of hesperidin supplementation on neuroprotection conferred in terms of redox balance in rats that were maintained on an ADF regimen.
Methods and Results. Middle aged male Wistar rats (Rattus Norvegicus) (12-15 months) were divided into four groups: Group I. Control; Group II. ADF; Group III. Hesperidin; Group IV. ADF+ Hes (maintained under ADF regimen and given hesperidin regularly). The number of rats maintained in each group is 6. We measured crucial biomarkers of antioxidant defense like FRAP, GSH, SOD, catalase, and oxidative stress MDA, PCO, AOPP, NO, inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) and autophagy expression. The results provide evidence of a synergistic benefit obtained in crucial parameters of antioxidant defense including FRAP, GSH, SOD, catalase and autophagy expression (Beclin gene) alongwith decrease in MDA, PCO, AOPP, NO and inflammation markers. The activity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes showed increased efficiency and the histopathological changes show well protected neurons and lesser neurodegeneration.
Conclusion. The results support administration of hesperidin during ADF regimen to obtain additional benefits and protection from aging induced oxidative stress and to reduce the incidence of common metabolic morbidities like impaired glucose levels and attenuate redox imbalance thus conferring neuroprotective effects.

背景。间日断食（ADF）是一种有益的饮食干预措施，能够减轻与年龄相关的并发症。橙皮苷是一种潜在的抗氧化剂，尤其以其清除自由基的能力而闻名。氧化损伤是导致大脑神经退行性变化的主要原因，进而加速衰老的退行性影响。在本研究中，我们旨在探讨橙皮苷补充剂在维持ADF方案下对大鼠神经保护的氧化还原平衡所发挥的作用。
方法与结果。中年雄性Wistar大鼠（Rattus Norvegicus）[12-15个月]被分为四组：I组.对照组；II组.ADF组；III组.橙皮苷组；IV组.ADF+ Hes（在ADF方案下维持，并定期给予橙皮苷）。每组维持的大鼠数量为6只。我们测量了抗氧化防御的关键生物标志物，如FRAP、GSH、SOD、过氧化氢酶以及氧化应激MDA、PCO、AOPP、NO、炎症细胞因子（IL-6和TNF-α）和自噬表达。结果表明，在抗氧化防御的关键参数（包括FRAP、GSH、SOD、过氧化氢酶和自噬表达[Beclin基因]）中获得协同益处，同时MDA、PCO、AOPP、NO和炎症标志物的降低。线粒体电子传递链复合物的活性显示效率提高，组织病理学变化表明神经元得到了良好的保护，神经退行性减少。
结论。结果表明，在ADF方案期间给予橙皮苷，可以获取额外的益处和保护，以抵抗由衰老引起的氧化应激，并降低常见代谢性疾病的发生率，如血糖受损，并减轻氧化还原失衡，从而发挥神经保护作用。