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Blue Corn Tortillas: Effects on Learning and Spatial Memory in Rats

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Abstract

Consumption of pigmented corn has been associated with health benefits due to its flavonoid contents (mainly anthocyanins) and antioxidant ability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of blue corn tortilla (BM) consumption on memory and learning ability adult rats. Eighteen adult female rats were divided into three groups and fed for 38 consecutive days with commercial food (Control group) or the commercial food plus 6 g/day of either blue corn (BM) or white corn (WM) tortillas. Memory and learning capabilities were assessed using Barnes’s labyrinth at the end of the feeding period. Short-and long-term memory was improved in the BM group, showing that consumption of blue maize tortillas improves learning and memory capabilities in adult rats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico

    L. O. Aguirre López, C. C. Gómez Rodiles & J. Bañuelos Pineda

  2. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Unidad Oaxaca, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Mexico

    J. L. Chávez Servia

  3. Centro de Enseñanza Técnica Industrial, Secretaria de Educación Pública, Guadalajara, Mexico

    J. R. Beltrán Ramírez

Authors
  1. L. O. Aguirre López
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  2. J. L. Chávez Servia
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  3. C. C. Gómez Rodiles
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  4. J. R. Beltrán Ramírez
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  5. J. Bañuelos Pineda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Bañuelos Pineda.

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Aguirre López, L.O., Chávez Servia, J.L., Gómez Rodiles, C.C. et al. Blue Corn Tortillas: Effects on Learning and Spatial Memory in Rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 72, 448–450 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-017-0642-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-017-0642-1

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