Evaluation of the Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Laurus Nobilis Leaves on Blood Biochemical Parameters and Histological Changes in the Liver and Kidney among Female Wistar Rats Treated with Depakene (Sodium Valproate)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Laurus Nobilis (Bay leaves) alcoholic extract on glucose, hemoglobin A۱c (HbA۱c), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and urea levels; moreover, it was attempted to examine the histological changes induced in the liver and kidney among female albino rats treated with Depakene (Sodium Valproate). The L. nobilis leaves were dried in the shade, and they were then ground in mechanical processing. The resulting substance (۲۵۰ gm) was processed in ۷۰% ethanol for ۲۴ h using a Soxhlet extractor at ۴۵°C. Before being measured, the extract was concentrated in vacuo and stored in a vacuum desiccator until the elimination of all the solvents. In total, ۲۰ female adult Wistar rats (۲۳۰-۲۵۰ g) were bred in the Animal House Lab at the University of Kufa, Faculty of Education for Girls, Kufa, Iraq. These animals were randomly divided into four groups (n=۵), housed in a typical laboratory setting, and given a standard diet and water. Each animal received the treatments intraperitoneally for ۳۰ days. The experimental groups were designed as follows: group ۱ (the control) was given only physiological saline solution; group ۲ received alcoholic extract of L. nobilis leaves at a dose of ۱۵۰ mg/kg BW; group ۳ received Depakene (Sodium Valproate) at a dose of ۵۰۰ mg/kg BW; and group ۴ received alcoholic extract+Depakene at a dose of ۱۵۰ mg/kg BW and ۵۰۰ mg/kg BW. The animals were euthanized following anaesthesia ۲۴ h after the last day of the experiment. Heart blood samples were gathered in gel tubes, the serum was then centrifuged for ۱۵ min at ۳۰۰۰ rpm to measure the biochemical parameter levels, which included glucose, HbA۱C, ALT, AST, creatinine, and urea. The liver and kidney organs were removed and placed in a ۱۰% formaldehyde solution instantly. Following fixation, they were processed as usual before being embedded in paraffin for histological analysis. Morphological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining techniques. The recorded data showed a major drop (P<۰.۰۵) in blood glucose and HbA۱c levels in group ۲ which was given ethanol extract, compared to the other groups. Interestingly, the level of blood glucose and HbA۱c levels reduced significantly in group ۴, which was given L. nobilis+Depakene, compared to the control and the animals treated with only Depakene. Moreover, the results showed a major rise (P<۰.۰۵) in the liver enzyme among the animals treated with Depakene, compared to other groups. On the other hand, the recorded data showed a substantial drop (P<۰.۰۵) in creatinine levels in the animals treated with L. nobilis leaves extract (group ۲) and group ۴, compared to group ۳ and the control group, respectively. However, no changes were recorded in the case of urea levels among the groups. Finally, the findings of this study showed that the ethanol extract of L. nobilis leaves was effectively reduced the adverse effects of Depakene. On the other hand, it had a significant effect on the reduction of blood glucose.

Keywords:

Depakene drug , glucose level , Laurus nobilis leaves , liver and kidney function