Avaliação dos parâmetros ansiolíticos em prole de ratas Wistar suplementadas com óleo de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense camb) durante a gestação e lactação.

Abstract

The pequi tree (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) is a plant widely distributed throughout Brazil. The oil extracted from its fruit is composed of a high content of liposoluble vitamins, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as high concentrations of carotenoids and phenolic acids, responsible for its antioxidant action. Studies have already proven that maternal supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids has a positive effect on maturation and development of the Nervous System of fetuses. The present work aimed to evaluate the impact on anxiety behavior of offspring supplemented with pequi oil during gestation and lactation. Twelve primitive Wistar rats aged between 90 and 120 days were used to obtain the newborns, separated into two groups: Control Group, which received distilled water, and the Pequi Oil group, which received pequi oil (1 ml / 100 g of weight of the animal), after weaning the pups were submitted to behavioral tests: Open field, high cross labyrinth and light and dark test. The results showed positive effects of pequi on the analyzed parameters. In the Open Field Test the animals of the pequi group presented significant differences in relation to the control over the parameters (rearing, grooming, ambulation). In the Elevated Cross Labyrinth Test, animals from the pequi group presented higher number of entries and length of stay in the open arms. In the Light-Dark test the animals of the pequi group also presented higher number of entries and length of stay in the clearing. Thus, the anxiolytic effect of pequi oil supplementation during gestation and lactation can be observed. Such an effect may be associated with the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids present in this oil.