Uso do Aloe vera no modelo de autismo induzido por ácido valpróico em ratos Wistar

• Ano de defesa: 2023
• Autor(a) principal: Mesquita, Dara da Silva
• Orientador(a): Aragão, Gislei Frota
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Palavras-chave em Português: Aloe; Transtorno do Espectro Autista; Neuroproteção; Ácido Valpróico
• Link de acesso: http://www.repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/71385

People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are affected in several segments of life including education, health, housing, employment, social benefits and the labor market, resulting in a high economic cost that extends into adulthood. Currently, there are no definitive or effective pharmacological therapies for ASD. Aloe vera is a plant used as a folk remedy in several cultures for more than 2000 years to treat various disorders and diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Aloe vera in Wistar rat pups in a model of gestational autism induced by valproic acid. Wistar rats of both sexes were used, which were mated and administered valproic acid 400 mg/kg or saline on the 12.5th day of pregnancy. After weaning, the offspring of these breeders were separated into groups and treated with Aloe vera (100 mg/kg) or saline solution for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, the animals were submitted to open field tests, social interaction, Y-maze and marble burying, later, the blood, the large intestine, the feces were removed for analysis. The results showed that the administration of valproic acid caused significant damage in terms of hematological and biochemical indicators and autistic-like behavior, of which oral treatment with Aloe vera 100 mg/kg was able to reverse most of these changes. The reversal of weight loss, of some biochemical damage (urea, HDL and alkaline phosphatase) was observed, in addition to acting on some altered behaviors, producing increased locomotion, reversal of repetitive and stereotyped behavior and improvement of social interaction. Thus, treatment with Aloe vera had a positive influence, improving behavioral and biochemical parameters, reducing the toxic effects of valproic acid, suggesting a positive perspective for the treatment of autism symptoms and opening a new avenue of study for the use of this herbal medicine in mental disorders.