Amini-Khoei Hossein, Taei Nafiseh, Dehkordi Hossein Tahmasebi, Lorigooini Zahra, Bijad Elham, Farahzad Anahita, Madiseh Mohammad Rahimi
Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Phytother Res. 2025 Jan;39(1):64-76. doi: 10.1002/ptr.8360. Epub 2024 Nov 4.
A confluence of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors shapes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Early-life stressors like MS play a contributing role in this multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder. This research was to explore the efficacy of Ocimum basilicum L. (O.B.) extract in mitigating behaviors reminiscent of autism prompted by maternal separation (MS) stress in male mice, focusing on its impact on neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. MS mice were treated with O.B. extract at varying dosages (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) from postnatal days (PND) 51-53 to PND 58-60. Behavioral experiments, including the Morris water maze, three-chamber test, shuttle box, and resident-intruder test, were conducted post-treatment. The method of maternal separation involved separating the pups from their mothers for 3 h daily, from PND 2 to PND 14. Molecular analysis of hippocampal tissue was performed to assess gene expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Hippocampal and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. O.B. extract administration resulted in the amelioration of autistic-like behaviors in MS mice, as evidenced by improved spatial and passive avoidance memories and social interactions, as well as reduced aggression in behavioral tests. O.B. extract attenuated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, as indicated by decreased MDA and increased TAC levels, as well as downregulation of TLR4, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression in the hippocampus. O.B. extract may offer a novel therapeutic avenue for ASD, potentially mediated through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
遗传、环境和表观遗传因素相互作用，共同塑造了自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）。早年生活应激源如母婴分离（MS）在这种多方面的神经发育障碍中起作用。本研究旨在探讨罗勒提取物（O.B.）对减轻雄性小鼠因母婴分离（MS）应激引发的类似自闭症行为的功效，重点关注其对神经炎症和氧化应激的影响。从出生后第51 - 53天至第58 - 60天，对MS小鼠给予不同剂量（20、40和60mg/kg）的O.B.提取物进行处理。处理后进行行为实验，包括莫里斯水迷宫实验、三室实验、穿梭箱实验和定居者-入侵者实验。母婴分离的方法是从出生后第2天至第14天，每天将幼崽与其母亲分离3小时。对海马组织进行分子分析，以评估Toll样受体4（TLR4）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）的基因表达。测量海马和血清中的丙二醛（MDA）水平以及总抗氧化能力（TAC）。给予O.B.提取物可改善MS小鼠的类自闭症行为，行为测试显示其空间和被动回避记忆、社交互动得到改善，攻击性降低。O.B.提取物减轻了氧化应激和神经炎症，表现为MDA水平降低、TAC水平升高，以及海马中TLR4、TNF-α和IL-1β表达下调。O.B.提取物可能为ASD提供一种新的治疗途径，可能是通过其抗炎和抗氧化特性介导的。
