Potential Protective Effects of Propolis against Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Monosodium Glutamate in Rabbits

Mokhtar Ibrahim Yousef, Doaa El-Sayed El-Nassag, Mahmoud Hussein Gasser, Alaa F.M.Ibrahim

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used to enhance the flavour in the preparation of food to improvement the palatability. However, it induces oxidative stress and causes many health complications. This work determines the effect of MSG on kidney and liver functions and to know the protective role of propolis in male rabbits. Twenty rabbits were divided into four equal groups. Group (1) used as control, group (2) received propolis (8mg/kg body weight), group (3) received MSG (50mg/kg bodyweight) and group (4) received propolis (8mg/kg body weight) plus MSG (50mg/kg bodyweight) in the same time as combination group. The doses was given every other day for 12 weeks. Monosodium glutamate significantly elevated the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and significantly decreased the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes (Catalase(CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione S-transferase (GST), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) in plasma, kidney and liver. Activities of liver enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), gama-glutamyl transferase (GGT), acid phosphatase (AcP) and alanine transaminase (ALT)), creatinine, glucose and urea were enhanced significantly, while globulin, albumin and total protein were reduced in plasma. Also, treatment with MSG resulted in the deterioration of the histological architecture in liver and kidney. The combination group alleviated its adverse effects on liver and kidney, and this protection might be due to the antioxidant properties of propolis. In addition, the histology of liver and kidney results were supported by the biochemical findings. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that propolis capable to mitigate the oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by MSG in male rabbits.

Keywords: Monosodium glutamate; Propolis; Hepatotoxicity; Nephrotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Antioxidant enzymes; Histological examination; Male rabbits.