In Vivo and In Silico Approach on Valproic Acid-Induced Cardiac Damage and Protection by Moringa oleifera Lam

Background/Objectives: Valproic acid (sodium salt form, SVA) is a short-chain fatty acid used to treat epilepsy. Nevertheless, its side effects reach a toxic level during treatments. Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringa) is a traditional plant that provides protection against various diseases due to its antioxidant components. In this study, the protective and ameliorative effect of Moringa on SVA-induced heart damage via in vivo and in silico approach was investigated. Methods: Experimental animals were split into four groups: Control, Moringa extract given group [300 mg.kg−1], SVA given group [500 mg.kg−1] and SVA + Moringa given group [at the same doses and time]. The procedure was carried out for fifteen days, after an overnight fasting, all animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. The heart tissues were taken, homogenized with cold physiological saline, and then centrifuged. Results: In clear supernatants, reduced glutathione, advanced oxidized protein products, total oxidant status, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress index, nitric oxide, glycoproteins levels and glutathione-dependent enzymes, gamma glutamyl transferase, glutamate oxalacetate transaminase, myeloperoxidase and carbonic anhydrase were increased. Conversely, total antioxidant capacity levels, catalase, superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium potassium ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities were decreased after SVA exposure. Treatment with Moringa significantly suppressed SVA-induced heart injury; oxidative stress parameters, total antioxidant capacity levels, the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes, and the activity of the enzymes critical for the cardiac metabolism were improved, while pH and cellular ion balance were regulated. Conclusions: Moringa extract-prevented anomalies and ameliorated biochemical alterations by decreasing oxidative stress.