Therapeutic Effect of Selected Plants on Autistic Rats

Ahmed, Adel; Eltahan, Nehad; Elsherif, Sara; Elsaadany, Mohamed

doi:10.21608/mkas.2018.165087

Therapeutic Effect of Selected Plants on Autistic Rats

Document Type : Original research articles

Authors

10.21608/mkas.2018.165087

Abstract

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder impairs social reciprocity and communication. The incidence of autism has been rising at an alarming rate over the past three decades, although the prevalence seems to differ between countries. Aim: The aim of this Study is to investigate the effects of gluten-free casein freediet (GFCF)fortified with/out Sage (Salvia officinalis) orGinkgo (Ginkgo Biloba)as a possible aid in the improvement of neurological, behavioral, neurochemical and histopathological changes associated with autism.Methods: Agroup of pregnant rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg Valproic acid (VPA) then their offspring were randomly distributed into 4 groups each 5 rats as following;group 1: fed with standard diet (VPA-SD) and served as control positive,group 2: fed with GFCF diet(VPA-GFCF diet), group 3: fed with GFCF diet plusSage (VPA-GFCF+ Sage), and group 4: fed with GFCF diet (VPA-GFCF + Ginkgo), where five offspring from healthy pregnant rats (not injected with VPA), fed standard diet were served as control negative group, Therapeutic potential ware measured using;the feed efficiency ratio (FER), serum level of (SOD),(T.A.C), (GSH), (MDA) and (5-HT) in addition to histopathological study of the cerebellum. Results:results showed that diet with Ginkgo significantly illustrated the highest effect on the FER compared to all other groups (p<0.05).There weremild differences in serummarkers,where sage group expressed the highest effect followed by ginkgo and then the GFCF diet. Histopathological of Cerebellum of rat from control positive showing necrosis, pyknosis and abnormal shape of Purkinje cells where Ginkgo group showingan improvements in necrosis and pyknosis. Conclusions: GFCF diets with herbal supplement demonstrated benefits effects in the treatment of disorders associated with autism.

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