Efeito do consumo da polpa de macaíba (Acrocomia intumescens) associado ao exercício de natação sobre a memória de ratos Wistar.

Abstract

Good nutrition is associated with maintaining the health and longevity of individuals. On the other hand, some pathologies are related to the progressive decline of cognitive functions, and as a way of preventing these diseases, healthy and balanced nutrition must be carried out, with essential nutrients guaranteeing the proper functioning of the brain. Macaíba (Acrocomia intumescens) is a fruit that in its chemical composition has high levels of carbohydrates, fibers, proteins, lipids (oleic and linoleic acid) and carotenoids. These nutrients play a key role in brain health. In addition to the diet, swimming also promotes benefits for the brain, by increasing the levels of antioxidant defenses and modulating the processes of learning and memory. Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of macaíba associated with swimming exercise on the memory of wistar rats. For the development of this study 32 male wistar rats, 70 days old, were used, randomly distributed in four groups, according to supplementation and physical training: sedentary control group (GCS), exercised control group (GCE), macaíba group sedentary (GMS) and exercised macaíba group (GME). The administration of the macaíba (AM) or distilled water (AA) solution was given orally and the swimming protocol consisted of 40 min / day for 5 days a week. To assess the effect of the macaíba pulp associated with swimming on memory, the Open Field Habituation Test and the Object Recognition Test were performed. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using the Student t test to compare the two exposures or between the exploration of the two objects, being considered significant when p <0.05. The Open Field Habituation Test showed that the GME group showed a significant reduction (p <0.05) in the ambulation during the second exposure of the animals in the arena to the open field. The Object Recognition Test revealed that in the evaluation of short-term memory, all groups explored the new object more in relation to the familiar object, whereas, in the evaluation of long-term memory, only the GMS and GME groups showed significant difference (p <0.05) with the increase in the exploration time of the new object in relation to the familiar object. From the results obtained, it was observed that both the consumption of macaíba and the practice of swimming promoted greater facilitation in memory in wistar rats, and this feat was enhanced when they were associated only in the Habituation test in the Open Field. Therefore, the positive effect of the association of consumption of the pulp of macaíba with physical exercise is dependent on the type of memory test evaluated.