AVALIAÇÃO DA AÇÃO ADAPTÓGENA DAS RAÍZES DE PFAFFIA GLOMERATA (SPRENGEL) PEDERSEN - AMARANTHACEAE

A research on Pfaffia glomerata was carried out. Its roots are mentioned as one of Brazilian “ginsengs” employed to improve memory and increase physical fitness. The plant was collected in Porto Rico, Paraná State, set in exsiccates, identified by a botanic specialist and evaluated regarding its quality according to pharmacopeial norms. Hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained from the roots using turbolysis process. After lyophilization they awere stored in a vaccum desiccator at freezing temperature. Tests such as pharmacological screening, spontaneous motion, rota-rod test, sleeping time and passive avoidance test with scopolamine as amnesic agent were performed in mice. Tests with young and aged rats submitted to chronic administration were also performed. They were: right-left discrimination test, passive avoidance test, spontaneous motion and evaluation of ponderal evolution. The pre-clinic toxicological study consisted of toxicology of one dose, toxicology of repeated doses for 90 days, evaluation of ponderal evolution, spontaneous motion and the blood test for biochemical and hematological parameters, as well as the anatomicopathological evaluation on the animal’s heart, liver and kidneys. The clinical study counted with 38 volunteers, aged between 50-75 and different physical fitness levels. Basal psychometric tests (Toulouse-Pierón Attention test, Wechsler Memory Scale and Raven’s Progressive Matrices) were applied, as well as ergoespirometric test in cycle ergometer increasing the workload progressively, up to exhaustion. The VO2 maximal, load workmaximal, submaximal heart rate and lactate levels at beginning and the end of exercise were measured. The volunteers took two capsules dialy of the plant dry extract (300 mg/capsule), or placebo (500 mg brown sugar) for six months. During that time they were followed by monthly check-ups. At the end of tratment, the psychometric tests and the ergoespirometryc were repeated. The specie used in this study was identified as Pfaffia glomerata (Sprengel) Pedersen – Amaranthaceae. Samples can be found at Herbarium Friburgense (FCAB) under the number 5426. HPLC data indicated the following contents of ß-ecdisone: 0,76% for the dry root powder, 1,07% for the product of lyophilization and 0,96% for the dry extract. On the pharmacological screening, were observed writhes, decrease in motor activity, stereotipy, climbing behavior, grooming and fuzzy look in some dosages. The sleeping time showed a reduction on the Pfaffia 100 mg/kg group. No statiscally differences were found on the tests spontaneous motion, rota-rod test and passive avoidance test. In the right-left discrimination test, the Pfaffia 100 mg/kg group was different from aged control group, becoming equal to the young control group. On the passive avoidance test (retention phase), it was verified that the young group was different from the aged control group, whereas the Pfaffia group does not differed from the aged control group, indicate a partial reversion of the memory deficit associated to age in that group of rats. The one dose toxicity test did not show any abnormality, nor mortality on the rats that had taken 3 g/kg orally which were observed for 14 days. The toxicity of repeated doses did not change the males or females ponderal evolution, did not alter the organs weight in that group, neither presented significant anatomicopathological alterations in face of control groups. Biochemical data showed several alterations, such as decrease on the urea and creatinine in males, decrease uric acid levels in males and females, increase on the CPK levels in males and significant increases on the bilirrubin values, although within an acceptable range. In the clinical test, it was noticed an escellent toleration of the product, with only one participant withdrawal of placebo group. Psychometrical data showed increase in the number of errors in the Pfaffia-Non-athletes group on the Toulouse-Pierón Attention test, as well as the lowest scorre on the Wechsler Memory Scale orientation sub-test, showing some loss. On the sub-test Digit Span (digits forward) of Wechsler Memory Scale, the atheletes group that taken the plant presented a score superior to its initial phase; on the sub-test Logic Memory I and II, improvements were shown in the Pfaffia-Non-athlete group (test I) and in the Pfaffia-athletes and Pfaffia-Non-athletes groups (test II). The Raven’s Progressive Matrices test did not detect any alterations in the groups. The blood viscosity values decrease in both placebo and Pfaffia groups. Regarding subjective data, volunteers mentioned improvements on memory, more physical fitness, better quality of sleep, increase in dreaming, improvement on sexual activity and several other aspects, even though these aspects present no statistical significance in face of the placebo group. It was concluded tha the Pfaffia glomerata roots present low toxitiy, improved the learning process and memory of aged rats in chronic models, presente some loss in praxia and orientation in healthy volunteers, and improved their performance in short time memory and declarative memory psychometric tests.