Researcher: Aaron Carl V. Tejano, March 15, 2016 Adviser: Angelico G. Reyes
The sensitivity of the brain to various chemicals during critical periods of development can lead to various developmental consequences of an offspring. Exposure to antiepileptic drugs such Valproic Acid (VPA) during as postnatal development of the brain can lead to aberrations in development congruent with people diagnosed with autism. The combination of oxidative stress, loss of Purkinje cells (PC) in the cerebellum and retardation or regression of neurodevelopmental and acquired behaviors are the diagnostic features of autism pathophysiology. Hence, there is a need to address autism as well as the necessity to find ameliorative agent for autism. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanol leaf extract of Balakat tree (Ziziphus talanai (Blanco) Merr.), an endemic tree in Philippines, revealed the presence of phenolic compounds with neuroprotective and antioxidant potentials. The study employed 12 mice pups distributed into 4 groups. To receive no treatment: T-is negative control administered only with VPA 400 mg/kg body weight (bw) on postnatal day (pnd) 14; T1 and T2 were administered with 300 mg/kg bw and 400 mg/kg bw ethanol leaf extract of Ziziphus talanai (ELEZT), respectively. Postnatal administration of VPA to T-resulted to retardation in maturation of negative geotaxis and regression of acquired skill of mid-air righting reflex. Further, decreased levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px were found along with the density reduction of Purkinje cell layer. Different dosage administrations of ELEZT to Ti and T2 have shown significant improvements in the assessment of neurobehavioral retardation and regression. Normal histological structure of the PC cells was observed along with the increased GSH-Px levels on Ti and T2 in contrast with VPA treated pups. It can be stated that ethanol leaf extract of Z. talanai possesses protective potentials against behavioral histology and oxidative stress postnatal autism using murine model. aberrations, against altered VPA-induced
Keywords: Ziziphus talanai (Blanco) Merr., Ameliorative potentials, Autism-Spectrum Disorders, Cerebelalr alterations, Valproic Acid
Tejano, A. C. V. (2016). Amelioration of motor behavioral aberrations and cerebellar histology by ethanol leaf extract of Balakat tree (Ziziphus talanai (Blanco) Merr.) in valproic acid-induced autism [Unpublished undergraduate thesis]. Mabalacat City College.