Dermatoprotective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on sodium valproate-induced skin damage in rats

Abstract

Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug associated with skin-related issues like excessive hair growth, hair loss, and skin rashes. In contrast, Moringa oleifera, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, is gaining popularity worldwide for its medicinal properties. The protective properties of M. oleifera extract against skin-related side effects caused by valproic acid were investigated. Female rats were divided into control groups and experimental groups such as moringa, sodium valproate, and sodium valproate + moringa groups. A 70% ethanolic extract of moringa (0.3 g/kg/day) was given to moringa groups, and a single dose of sodium valproate (0.5 g/kg/day) was given to valproate groups for 15 days. In the skin samples, antioxidant parameters (such as glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity), as well as oxidant parameters representing oxidative stress (i.e. lipid peroxidation, sialic acid, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and total oxidant capacity), were examined. Additionally, boron, hydroxyproline, sodium-potassium ATPase, and tissue factor values were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was also carried out for protein analysis in the skin samples. The results showed that moringa could increase glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, sodium-potassium ATPase, and boron levels, while decreasing lipid peroxidation, sialic acid, nitric oxide, total oxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species, hydroxyproline, and tissue factor levels. These findings imply that moringa possesses the potential to mitigate dermatological side effects.

Keywords:

• Skin
• Moringa oleifera extract
• sodium valproate
• antioxidant-oxidant parameters
• electrophoresis

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Botany Unit of Biological Sciences Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria for their help in the identification of the plant material. The limitation of the present study is the lack of blood levels of parameters that could support the findings of oxidative damage caused by sodium valproate, and the ameliorating effects of M. oleifera on oxidative damage. Another is the absence of histological findings.

Author contributions

GE: Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing-review and editing, Visualization, Project administration. SO: Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing-review and editing, Visualization. IBT: Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing- review and editing. BAT: Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing-review and editing, Visualization. UFM: Methodology, Validation, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing-review and editing. OS: Validation, Formal analysis, Resources, Data Curation, Writing- review and editing, Supervision. RY: Conceptualization, Validation, Formal analysis, Resources, Data Curation, Writing-review and editing, Supervision. AY: Conceptualization, Validation, Formal analysis, Resources, Data Curation, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-review and editing, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Marmara University Scientific Research Projects Commission (Project No: TYL-10423).