BACKGROUND

Long-term cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) intake has been associated with the development of neurological diseases characterized by motor impairment in humans and experimental animals. Thus, there is a need to identify the therapeutic effects of molecules to ameliorate said alterations, such as resveratrol, which was explored in the present study. Therefore, we evaluate whether the behavioral alterations associated with the chronic intake of cassava juice could be reversed with resveratrol.

METHODS

Adult male rats were randomly assigned to four independent groups (n = 8): vehicle (purified water), cassava (28.56 mg/kg), resveratrol (10.70 mg/kg), and a combination of treatments (cassava plus resveratrol). Vehicle and cassava juices were administered from days 1 to 28, followed by vehicle or resveratrol from days 29 to 56. The effects of the treatments were evaluated on days 28 and 56 in the open field test, rotarod, and swimming test, compared with the baseline.

RESULTS

Cassava juice increased crossing, rearing, and grooming in the open field, produced a short latency to fall from the rotarod, and increased the spin behavior and the total time of immobility in the swimming test. These effects were reversed by resveratrol.

CONCLUSIONS

Resveratrol could be considered in the development of therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders associated with cassava consumption.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.