Effect of Antiepileptic Drug Sodium Valproate on Stomach Tissue Glycoproteins: The Protective Role of Moringa Extract.

Objective: Sialic acid, hexoses, hexosamines and fucose are components of glycoprotein, glycolipid and/or ganglioside. These glycoconjugates are essential components of cellular membrane and receptors, which are required for normal cellular activities. The levels of these aforementioned glycans are likely to be obstructed under biological conditions (such as oxidative stress) that leads to cellular and tissue damage. Despite the efficacy of valproate as a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug, it administration is linked to oxidative stress and multiple organ damage. Moringa oleifera leaves have been proven to be bioactive food with diverse biochemical benefits, that include antioxidant, wound healing and tissue protective effects. Methods: In this study, female Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into four. Group 1: control group given physiological saline; Group 2: animals given only 70% ethanol Moringa leaves extract (0.3 g/kg b.w./day); Group 3: animals that received only sodium valproate (0.5 g/kg b. w./day); Group 4: animals given similar dose of sodium valproate + Moringa extract. The treatments were administered orally for 15 days, and the animals were then fasted overnight and sacrificed. Stomach tissues collected were homogenized in ice-cold normal saline, using a glass homogenizer to make up 10% w/v tissue homogenate. Results: Analysis revealed that valproate administration resulted in elevated levels of sialic acid, hexoses, hexosamine, and fucose in the stomach tissue homogenates. Conversely, the administration of Moringa extract mitigated the adverse effect of valproate on glycan levels. Conclusion: Thus, Moringa leave extract can be a good candidate for attenuating valproate-induced toxicity on stomach tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]