Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The Preventive Effect of Lotus Seedpod Procyanidins on Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Damage Induced by Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure med./bio.

By: Duan Y, Wang Z, Zhang H, He Y, Lu R, Zhang R, Sun G, Sun X
Published in: Food Funct 2013; 4 (8): 1252-1262
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effects of lotus seedpod procyanidins (LSPC) administration on cognitive deficits and oxidative damage induced by exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields in mice.

Background/further details

Five groups of mice were examined (n=10 per group): 1.) sham exposure, 2.) exposure, 3.) exposure + 30 mg/kg LSPC, 4.) exposure + 60 mg/kg LSPC and 5.) exposure + 90 mg/kg LSPC.
The LSPCs were derived from the seedpod of lotus plants and administered orally. Procyanidins belong to the class of flavonoids and are widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers and bark. They act as an antioxidant.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 4 h/day for 28 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration 4 h/day for 28 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber mice were exposed in well ventilated perspex boxes and these boxes were placed in the middle of the coils, temperature in the boxes was 23 ± 0.5°C, pair of helmholtz coils (1 mm wire diameter, 32 cm internal diameter, 36 cm external diameter) with 500 turns was used
Setup exposure device was placed in a temperature controlled room (23 ± 2°C)
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info sham exposed mice were placed under the same conditions without applying an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 8 mT - measured - -
Additional parameter details

background magnetic field about 30 µT

Measurement and calculation details

intensity of magnetic field was measured once a week at 18 different points of the perspex box

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The magnetic field-exposure led to a significantly decreased body weight in comparison to the sham exposure. However, an administration of 90 mg/kg LSPCs diminished this effect.
In the Morris water maze, the spatial memory and learning was significantly decreased in the magnetic field-exposed group when compared to the sham exposure, but improved again with an administration of 90 mg/kg LSPCs.
The levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide and the enzyme activity of nitric oxide synthase were significantly increased after the magnetic field-exposure, while the enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly desreased compared to the sham exposed group. However, an administration of LSPCs (especially 60 and 90 mg/kg) decreased the levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase significantly and increased the enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase significantly in comparison to the magnetic field-exposed mice without LSPCs.
The histopathological examination showed a significantly lower number of pyramidal cells in some regions of the hippocampus of exposed mice compared to the sham exposure, while an administration of LSPCs prevented this effect.
The authors conclude that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields could induce oxidative stress and influence the cognitive performance in mice. An administration of LSPCs could prevent those impairments.

Study character:

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