A number of studies have indicated the benefits of coffee consumption on physical and mental health; however, scientific evidence on these effects, in particular of the benefits to brain function, has not been determined. In the present study, we aimed to determine the benefits of caffeic acid in the nervous system. For this purpose, we administered doses of 0 or 300 mg/kg for 30 days to mice that were not otherwise affected. We analyzed survival of newly born cells, oxidative stress, inflammatory marker expression, and microglial activation in the hippocampus. We found that caffeic acid had no effect on the expression levels of neurotrophic factors and inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, caffeic acid-treated mice exhibited significantly lower levels of 4-hydroxynonenal, an oxidative stress marker, in the hippocampus, as well as significantly fewer activated microglia. Abnormally high oxidative stress, as well as activated microglia accumulation are both considered to relate to the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The present study demonstrates the physiological effects of caffeic acid and may explain the suggested benefits of coffee consumption on brain health.

中文翻译：

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咖啡酸可降低小鼠海马中的氧化应激和小胶质细胞活化。

多项研究表明，饮用咖啡对身心健康有好处；但是，尚未确定有关这些作用的科学证据，特别是对脑功能的益处。在本研究中，我们旨在确定咖啡酸在神经系统中的益处。为此目的，我们对没有受到其他影响的小鼠给予了0或300 mg / kg的剂量，持续30天。我们分析了新生细胞的存活，氧化应激，炎症标记物表达以及海马中的小胶质细胞活化。我们发现咖啡酸对神经营养因子和炎性或抗炎性细胞因子的表达水平没有影响。但是，经咖啡酸处理的小鼠海马区的氧化应激标记物4-羟壬烯醛水平明显降低，以及激活的小胶质细胞明显减少。异常高的氧化应激以及活化的小胶质细胞积累均被认为与神经和精神疾病的病理生理有关。本研究证明了咖啡酸的生理作用，并可以解释咖啡对大脑健康的建议益处。