Effect of Taurine on Controlling the Side Effects of Valproic Acid in Epileptic Rats

Abstract

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known antiepileptic drug; however, it has adverse effects on different body organs, particularly as a result of inducing oxidative stress in the liver. Taurine (Tau) is an amino acid prevalent in the brain that possesses anti-tumor, anti-toxic, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the potential of the co-treatment of Tau in mitigating the deleterious effects of VPA in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) epileptic rats. Methods: A total of 42 rats were divided into six groups of seven as follows: control group, PTZ-treated group (single dose, 60 mg/kg intraperitoneally [IP]), VPA-treated group (500 mg/kg IP for 14 days), Tau-treated group (100 mg/kg orally for 28 days), VPA+PTZ group, and Tau+VPA+PTZ group. The liver function, antioxidant status, and lipid profile markers were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Results: The IP injection of PTZ and VPA elevated aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels. These treatments caused negative alterations in protein concentrations, antioxidant status, and lipid profile markers of the rats’ sera. The treatment with Tau+VPA, on the other hand, improved liver function, restored fairly normal total protein and albumin levels, and improved malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity concentrations. Furthermore, the Tau+VPA treatment significantly controlled total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels, compared to the VPA+PTZ treatment. Conclusion: The treatment with Tau+VPA is highly effective in controlling the unfavorable side effects of VPA in an epileptic rat model.