Ethyl Gallate from Pecan and Its Protective Effects Against Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Impairment

The study aimed to identify bioactive compounds in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and evaluate their protective effects against oxidative stress and amyloid-β (Aβ1–42) induced cognitive impairment. The researchers prepared pecan extract and evaluated its antioxidant and cytoprotective activities in PC12 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Bioactivity-guided fractionation, chromatography, HPLC, and GC-MS were used to isolate and identify the active compound as ethyl gallate. The protective effects were further investigated with Aβ1-42-induced cognitive impairment. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests. The results showed that pecan extract significantly improved spontaneous alternation performance in the Y-maze test. Ethyl gallate improved both Y-maze performance and memory retention in the passive avoidance test. Although brain malondialdehyde levels decreased numerically, the difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that ethyl gallate may help protect against cognitive impairment.

Source : https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/15/18/3316