Protective Effects of Luteolin on a Rat Model of Autism: An Analysis of Luteolin Flavonoid’s Effects on Rat Behaviour, Histology and Cerebellar Pathology

Khlood Mehdar and Saad Alqahtani

Background and Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviours. Its causes are complex and involve genetic and environmental factors. Luteolin is a natural flavonoid found in plants and is known for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Luteolin affects autistic-like behaviours caused by sodium valproic acid (SVP) injection, as well as any potential contributions from oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in rat models of ASD. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 newborn rat offspring (10 for each group) were examined to determine the effects of valproic acid on the rat cerebellum. Pregnant Wistar females were treated with SVP on the 12.5th gestational day and their offspring were treated with SVP on postnatal day 14. The control group was treated with saline on the same days. The experimental group received Luteolin 20 mg/kg of body weight by gastric gavage from postnatal day 14 to 45. Autism-like behaviours were evaluated using the elevated plus-maze and rotarod tests. On postnatal day 45, the cerebellum of all pups was removed and prepared for light and biochemical analysis of oxidative stress markers and the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin 17 (IL-17) in cerebellar tissue homogenate. Results: The SVP caused a significant decrease in neurobehavioral evaluations and was associated with elevated malondialdehyde levels and impaired glutathione peroxidase in the cerebellar tissues. The expression of IL-17 in the cerebellar cortex also increased significantly after the SVP injection. Luteolin treatment significantly improved neurobehavioral alterations, oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine and cerebellar histological structures. Conclusion: This animal model of autism demonstrated that Luteolin has neuroprotective properties, suggesting that it may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for treating Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

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