Background: Menopause related neurodegeneration and memory impairment in obesity condition is increasing. Therefore, the neuroprotectant and cognitive enhancer against the mentioned disorder is required.
Objective: In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of mung bean protein supplement on the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing effects which was investigated in bilateral ovariectomized (OVX) rats with obesity.
Material and Methods: Female Wistar rats, weighing 180 to 200 g, were induced experimental menopause by bilateral ovariectomy and then they were induced obesity with high-fat diet. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats with obesity were fed with a high fat diet (HFD) containing 15% mung bean for 8 weeks. The assessments of spatial memory and biochemical profiles, oxidative stress status and apoptosis in the brain together with the serum lipid profiles were determined at the end of treatment.
Results: The results showed that mung bean protein treatment improved spatial memory in Morris water maze test. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hippocampus of OVX rats with obesity which received mung bean protein were decreased. The density of Bax+ cells decreased, but the density of Bcl+ cells in the hippocampus increased.
Conclusion: Therefore, mung bean protein is the potential neuroprotectant and cognitive enhancer. The possible underlying mechanism might occur partly via the improvement of cholinergic function, oxidative stress status, and apoptosis. However, the clinical trial study was still necessary to confirm this effect.

Keywords: Mung bean, Memory impairment, Neurodegeneration, Obesity, Menopause