Moringa oleifera ameliorates oxidative damage caused by sodium valproate in the small intestine

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) extract against valproic acid (VPA)-induced small intestine damage in rats. Forty-six adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Control (saline), MO (300 mg/kg), VPA (500 mg/kg), and VPA + MO. All treatments were administered orally for 15 days. Biochemical oxidative stress analyses revealed that MO treatment mitigated oxidative stress in VPA-treated rats. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that bioactive compounds in MO leaves exhibited potential inhibitory activity against oxidative stress-related enzymes, with high binding affinities. Immunohistochemical results indicated that VPA did not alter antioxidant stress responses such as Nrf2. However, histological examinations showed that VPA caused structural damage to the small intestine, while MO treatment alleviated this effect. Overall, MO exhibited significant protective and antioxidant properties against VPA-induced intestinal injury.