Effects of Cardamom on Neuroinflammation, Learning and Memory in Mice Fed a Cafeteria Diet

TL;DR

Cardamom helped improve memory and reduce brain inflammation in mice that ate a high-fat diet, suggesting it could protect against diet-related cognitive issues.

Contribution

This study shows cardamom reverses cognitive and neuroinflammatory effects of a cafeteria diet in mice.

Findings

Cardamom reduced TNF-α levels and improved memory in mice on a cafeteria diet.

Cardamom supplementation decreased anxiety-like behavior in cafeteria diet-fed mice.

Cardamom improved lipid markers and cognitive function in obese mice.

Abstract

The consumption of a cafeteria diet is described as deleterious to cognitive performance, potentially due to inducing inflammation in the brain. Cardamom, a potent antioxidant, may benefit brain health. In the current study, we assessed the effects of a cafeteria diet on neuroinflammation and its reversal by dietary cardamom.

Thirty‐six male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a cafeteria diet (CAF) to induce obesity for ten weeks. They were then divided into four treatment groups: standard diet (SD), cafeteria diet (CAF), cafeteria diet with cardamom (CAF‐CARD) and standard diet with cardamom (SD‐CARD). After administering cardamom orally (500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks, the mice were subjected at week 14 to behavioural tests assessing learning and memory, and hippocampal tumour necrosis factor (TNF‐α) levels were measured to evaluate neuroinflammation.

The TNF‐alpha level in the CAF group was higher than in the SD group (p < 0.001), and significantly lower in the CAF‐CARD group compared to the CAF group (p < 0.01). The recognition index (RI) was significantly lower in the CAF group, while cardamom supplementation improved the RI compared to the CAF group (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in spatial memory between SD and CAF groups (p < 0.01). In terms of digging behaviour, which indicates anxiety, mice in the CAF group buried 58% of the marbles compared to 38% in the SD group (p < 0.01). However, this behaviour decreased in the CAF‐CARD group compared to the CAF group (p < 0.001).

Cardamom appears to be beneficial for obesity‐related cognitive impairments and dysfunction in the hippocampus.

Cardamom supplementation (500 mg/kg/day) improved memory, reduced anxiety and neuroinflammation in mice fed with a cafeteria diet. Behavioural tests showed enhanced cognitive functions, while TNF‐α and lipid markers decreased significantly. These findings suggest cardamom's potential as a neuroprotective agent against diet‐induced memory and metabolic dysfunction.

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