Effect of compulsory, optional and restricted dark chocolate diets on memory consolidation, locomotor activity and serum corticosterone levels in rats under chronic isolation stress

Background and Aim: Chocolate and cocoa flavanols have been associated with improvements in a range of health complaints dating from ancient times. Moreover, less is known about the effects of dark chocolate on neuro-cognition and behavior Methods: Thirty-five male rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, stress, stress with compulsory, optional and restricted dark chocolate diets. Dark stay time, the number of entrances to the dark compartment was assessed as memory consolidation and locomotor activity using the passive avoidance test. Results: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of compulsory, optional and restricted dark chocolate diets on locomotor activity and serum corticosterone levels in rats under chronic isolation stress. Conclusion: Dark stay time and the number of entrants to the dark room decreased significantly in the stress-compulsory dark chocolate diet. Whereas, the number of the entrance to the darkroom was significantly higher in the optional dark chocolate diet than the compulsory dark chocolate diet. Serum corticosterone levels were significantly lower only in stress- compulsory dark chocolate diet group than stress group. The data indicated that different dark chocolate diets had different effects on brain function under stress condition. Memory consolidation, locomotor activity, serum corticosterone levels, improved only in compulsory dark chocolate diets. It appears that the compulsory and optional dark chocolate diet had the best and least effect on the improvement of brain function, respectively. It is therefore proposed that compulsory, restricted and optional dark chocolate diets influence the enhancement of brain functions, respectively.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dark Chocolate ، Diet ، Memory ، Stress