Macaiba palm pulp (Acrocomia intumescens Drude) improves memory and induces anxiolytic-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats.

Macaiba pulp is a source of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of macaiba pulp on anxiety behavior, memory and brain oxidative stress in dyslipidemic rats. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 10): Control (CG), Macaíba (MG), Dyslipidemic (DG) and Dyslipidemic Macaiba (DMG). Animals from the DG and DMG were induced to dyslipidemia consuming a high fatty emulsion for 14 days before treatment with macaiba pulp. During treatment the MG and DMG received the macaiba pulp (1 g/kg body weight) for 28 days. The rats were evaluated with the open field (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests to measure anxiety-like behavior; memory was evaluated using the object recognition test (ORT). After euthanasia, the fatty acid profile of the animals' brain tissue was measured and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total glutathione (GSH) were quantified. The data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey (p < 0.05) test. Both groups (MG and DMG) that consumed the macaiba pulp showed anxiolytic-like behavior for parameters of grooming, rearing and ambulation in the OFT test and time in the center and time and entries in the open arms in the EMP test; The MG and DMG groups increased exploration rate in the ORT. The DMG showed a reduction in MDA levels (p < 0.05); however, MG and DMG had decreased in GSH (p < 0.05). The results showed that macaiba pulp consumption induces anxiolytic-like behavior and reduces brain oxidative damage in dyslipidemic animals, and improves memory in healthy and dyslipidemic rats.