The global older adult population has grown significantly, accompanied by an increase in the incidence of anxiety disorders (Shafiee et al., 2024). Memory decline may result from the age-related reduction of neuronal cells and neurotransmitters (Unni et al., 2021). It may also occur due to oxidative stress compromising calcium balance and synapses, causing neuron death and reduced memory. In this context, the consumption of antioxidant compounds from food could minimize memory impairment (Unni et al., 2021), as well as act to reduce anxiety symptoms (Gonçalves et al., 2020; Moura et al., 2023), which are associated with memory loss (Delphin-Combe et al., 2016) and aging (Unni et al., 2021). Besides that, membrane lipid oxidation compromises synaptic fluidity and functionality, being directly related to neuronal degeneration and memory loss (Plascencia-Villa and Perry, 2023).

Studies using aged animal models, 18 months, have been employed to investigate nutritional strategies that can mitigate the effects of aging. For instance, Moura et al. (2023) demonstrated that supplementation with cactus flour reduced brain lipid peroxidation and concurrently decreased anxiety-like behaviors in aged rats. Furthermore, aged rats that consumed baru demonstrated modulation of the gut microbiota, improved memory, and the induction of anxiolytic-like behavior in rats during aging (de Bidô et al., 2023).

Therefore, it is crucial to encourage the consumption of natural sources rich in antioxidants (Daneshzad et al., 2020). TC a medicinal plant from the Combretaceae family, is originally from India (Abiodun et al., 2016). It offers several health benefits due to its nutritional and bioactive characteristics (de Oliveira et al., 2024). It has demonstrated in vivo antidiabetic, gastroprotective, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory properties (Abiodun et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016; Yakubu et al., 2020).

Studies by Chandrasekhar et al. (2017) showed that supplementation with the leaves and bark of TC promoted a neuromodulatory effect and alleviated depression in female's rats (Abiodun et al., 2016). The plant's substances exhibit anti-inflammatory properties (Hao et al., 2022; Kaneria et al., 2018; Yadav et al., 2022), anxiolytic effects (Stringer et al., 2015) and neuroprotective effects in male rats (Ahmadi et al., 2021).

The limited use of TC fruits has spurred research to explore their potential (de Oliveira et al., 2024). These fruits are rich in various chemical constituents, including gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, mangiferin, quercetin-3,4-di-O-glucoside, chebulinic acid, rutin, vanillic acid, ellagic acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, arjunolic acid, and oleanolic acid—compounds with recognized biological activities (Kaneria et al., 2018).

Therefore, we hypothesized that consuming TC fruit, a source of antioxidants, could improve performance on certain memory tasks, reduce anxiety-like behavior, and decrease brain lipid peroxidation in rats. Thus, we aimed to examine the impact of TC fruit consumption on memory, anxiety, and lipid peroxidation in the brains of aged rats. Our study differs from previous studies because we specifically evaluated TC fruits, which have been little explored in the neurobehavioral context until now, but are known to be rich in antioxidants. Additionally, we analyzed an aged rat model, which allows us to understand the effects on age-related cognitive decline, in contrast to previous studies that used young animals or induced stress models. Furthermore, we included measures of anxiety associated with memory, as there is growing evidence that anxiety symptoms not only accompany aging but can also accelerate cognitive decline. Thus, our integrated approach (combining memory, anxiety, and oxidative stress markers) seeks to broaden our understanding of the neuroprotective potential of TC in aging and provide more comprehensive data on its applicability.