Effects of thymoquinone on valproic acid-induced oxidative stress in perinatal rat brain

Abstract

Thymoquinone (TQ), bioactive molecule of black cumin, has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. TQ’s hypoglecemic effect while applied prenatally is reported. This study is aimed to find the TQ dose with maximum antioxidant and minimum side effects in valproic acid (VPA) induced oxidative stress. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected i.p. with 400 mg/kg/ml of VPA on embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5). Repeated dose groups were injected i.p. from E11.5- E14.5; RC- repeated control: did not receive TQ, R1: 0.5 mg/kg/ml of TQ, R2: 2 mg/kg/ml of TQ, R3: 4 mg/kg/ml of TQ, R4: 8 mg/kg/ml of TQ. Single dose groups were injected i.p. on E12.5; SC- single control: did not receive TQ, S1: 8 mg/kg/ml of TQ, S2: 15 mg/kg/ml of TQ. Pups were sacrificed on postnatal day 7. Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured via ELISA method. Prenatal VPA exposure decreased GSH and SOD levels in RC and SC compared to naïve group. R3 group showed improved GSH and SOD levels compared to RC. No significant difference in MDA levels was found between groups. Antioxidant effects of TQ on VPA induced oxidative stress has been showed in R3 group. This dose can be used to investigate TQ’s effects on other parameters that are affected by prenatal VPA exposure.