Cactus flour (Opuntia ficus-indica) reduces brain lipid peroxidation and anxious-like behavior in old Wistar rats.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of cactus flour on the anxious-like behavior and cerebral lipid peroxidation in elderly rats (18 months of life). The rats were divided into four groups (n=10). control (CG) - received the AIN-93M ration. P5%. P10% and P15%. treated with the AIN-93M ration with the addition of 5, 10 and 15% of cactus flour respectively. In the elevated plus maze (EPM) groups P5%, P10% and P15% remained longer in the open arms. P15% remained longer in this region and less time in the closed arms. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the time the rats remained in the center of the apparatus. P5%. P10% and P15% performed a greater number of head dips. Regarding the open field animals P5%. P10% and P15% performed a greater number of rearing and stayed for a longer time in the center of the apparatus with P15% being the group that remained for the longest time when compared to the other groups. There was no difference in locomotion and grooming. As for the light-dark box. P15% spent more time in the light part. less time in the dark part and performed a smaller number of transitions. P5%. P10% and P15% had the lowest concentrations of brain lipid peroxidation. Our data demonstrated that consumption of cactus flour by rats promoted anxiolytic effects and minimized brain lipid peroxidation in aging. Given the above, it can be deduced that cactus pear can contribute to the prevention and/or treatment of anxiety in the aging phase.Due to its concentrations of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, soluble fibers and antioxidant contents such as vitamin E and selenium.

Consumption of cashew nut induced anxiolytic-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats consuming a high fat diet.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cashew nut consumption on anxiety-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats. The groups formed were: Control (CONT), Dyslipidemic (DL) and Dyslipidemic cashew nuts (DLCN). Tests to assess anxiety parameters were performed after the treatment period. Brain fatty acid profiles were analyzed. The animals in the DLCN group showed more rearing than DL, without differing from the CONT and less grooming than either the DL and CONT in the Open Field. In the Elevated Plus Maze, DLCN spent more time on the open arms and in the central area compared to the other groups. As for brain fatty acids, there was a reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids for the DLCN compared to the other groups. The cashew nut, rich in fatty acids, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, reduced the anxiogenic-like behavior caused by dyslipidemia in rats without altering brain fatty acids.

Mix of almond baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) and goat whey modulated intestinal microbiota, improved memory and induced anxiolytic like behavior in aged rats.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of the consumption of a mix of baru almond and goat whey on memory performance and anxiety parameters related to the intestinal health of rats treated during aging. The animals were divided into three groups and treated by gavage for 10 weeks (n = 10/each group): Control (CT) - distilled water; Baru almond (BA) - 2000 mg of baru/kg of body weight; and Baru + Whey (BW) - 2000 mg of baru + 2000 mg of goat milk whey/kg of body weight. Anxiety behavior, memory, brain fatty acid profile and fecal microbiota were measured. BA and BW realized less grooming, spent more time in the central area of the open field and the open arms, and realized more head dipping in the elevated plus maze. A higher rate of exploration of the new object in the short and long-term memory was observed in BA and BW. There was an increase in the deposition of MUFAs and PUFAs and oleic acid in the brain of BA and BW. Regarding spatial memory, BA and BW performed better, with an emphasis on BW. There was a beneficial modulation of the fecal microbiota with a reduction of the pathogenic genus Clostridia_UFC-014 in BA and BW and an increase in the abundance of metabolic pathways of interest in the brain-gut axis. Thus, consumption of the mix is efficient in beneficially altering the intestinal microbiota, improving memory and anxiolytic-like behavior in rats during aging.

Repeated donkey milk consumption reduces anxiety-like behaviors and brain oxidative damage to lipids in mice.

Donkey milk (DM) is a source of bioactive compounds that can benefit neural functioning. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DM consumption on anxiolytic-related, despair-like, locomotion and coordination behaviors, as well as the provision of protection from oxidative damage to lipids and proteins in brain tissues and melatonin plasma levels. To achieve this, male mice orally received DM (4 g.kg-1) or vehicle for 18 days. Their behavior was assessed in the following tests: elevated plus maze (EPM), open field and rotarod tests (OF, RR) and forced swimming test (FST). Acute treatments with diazepam (DZP, 1.5 mg.kg-1, v.o.), fluoxetine (FLX, 20 mg.kg-1, i.p.) and nortriptyline (NTP, 20 mg.kg-1, i.p.) were used as positive controls. On the eighteenth day, the animals were euthanized and brain tissue and blood were collected to measure oxidative damage, and melatonin plasma levels. Similar to DZP, repeated DM consumption reduced exploration to open areas in the EPM test. Under our experimental conditions, conventional antidepressants reduced immobility time in the FST, and the benzodiazepine treatment impaired motor coordination in mice. No significant differences in locomotion, motor coordination and despair-related behaviors were observed in the mice treated with DM when assessed in the EPM, OF, RR and FST, respectively. Biochemical assays showed that repeated DM exposition protected against oxidative damage to lipids and increased plasma levels of melatonin. These findings suggest consumption of DM may be a promising food for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders, without depressant effects on the central nervous system.