Abstract
Objective: To explore the neuroprotective potential of hesperidin in rats that have been exposed to propionic acid-induced autism and correlation assessment analysis with serum BDNF levels, a biomarker for neuroprotection.
Methodology: The study included 25 healthy male 7 weeks-old Sprague-Dawley rats and five groups were designed. Group I included physiological rats (n=5) that were not induced, while the other groups (n=20) received intraperitoneal injections of propionic acid (250 mg/kg/day) for 5 days. Group II was exclusively made up of rats that had been induced with PPA. Groups III, IV, and V involved the rats that were given different dosages of hesperidin (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg, respectively) mixed into their diet for a 24-day period. Hesperidin effects were assessed by measuring BDNF levels via ELISA kits. One-way ANOVA (post hoc Tukeys test) were used in statistical analysis.
Results: Significant recovery of serum BDNF levels was seen in the Hesperidin treated groups (III, IV and V) relative to the PPA-induced group (II). Hesperidin therapy greatly reduced autism-like problems. The measured BDNF levels (ng/ml) were as Group I (15.2±0.5), II (6.8±0.4), III (10.3±0.5), IV (13.0±0.6) and V (14.7±0.5). Significant differences between the groups were found using a one-way ANOVA (p<0.001). BDNF levels in Groups III, IV, and V were considerably greater than those in Group II (PPA-induced), according to the post-hoc Tukeys test (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Increased BNDF levels in a mouse model of PPA-induced autism supported the neuroprotective effects of hesperidin.

Key words: BDNF, Autism-Induced Models, Propionic acid (PPA), neurodegeneration, autism, hesperidin.