The Effect of Hypericin on Autism Like Behavior in Maternal Separation Animal Model: An Experimental Study

The stress caused by maternal separation in the early days after birth induces autistic behaviors. Hypericin has many biological properties, including antidepressant and anti-inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed at determining hypericin effect on autism behaviors that induced by maternal separation model.

In this experimental study, Wistar rats were divided into two control and maternal separation groups. The rats in the maternal separation group were subjected to individual separation from their mother for 1 h per day (postnatal day1-9). The maternal separation group was divided into 4 subgroups: Autism, fluoxetine, hypericin (10mg/kg), hypericin (50mg/kg). Treatment was gavaged in pups on postnatal day 21-34. In the end of day 34, neurobehavioral tests (grooming, social interaction and open field test) were carried out. Statistical analysis and between group comparison were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukeychr('39')s test.

In the pups subjected to individual isolations from their mother, social deficits (p=0.007), excessive repetitive behavior (p=0.001), and anxiety (p=0.001) were increased. Whereas, hypericin could reduce repetitive behaviors index (p=0.011), anxiety (p=0.001) and social interaction deficits (p=0.031) in the maternal isolation autism rat model.  

These findings indicated that maternal separation may produce autistic-like behaviors, and hypericin through antidepressant effect may be a potential therapeutic agent against autistic-like behavior.