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VITAMIN C ATTENUATES MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

Authors: Sherif Rabea Mohamed and Mona Abd El-Rhman Ibrahim

Received March 1, 2025

Accepted for publication April 25, 2025

Published June 30, 2025. Volume 3:1 Pages 154—165

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Peer reviewer comments 2

Correspondence: sherifrabea@science.helwan.edu.eg

Abstract

The overconsumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) may cause liver injury by promoting oxidative stress, along with activating inflammatory processes within the organ. This research was intended to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of vitamin C in a murine model of MSG-triggered liver injury. Four groups of 24 adult albino male rats were arbitrarily assigned: a group for control, an MSG group (given 60 mg/kg MSG daily for 30 days), a vitamin C group (given 100 mg/kg vitamin C daily for 30 days), and a co-treatment group receiving vitamin C followed by MSG two hours later for 30 days. Biochemical assessments were performed to measure liver antioxidant markers, such as the activity of superoxide dismutase or SOD, catalase or CAT, and glutathione, or GSH, as well as lipid peroxidation markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Measurements of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) along with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were employed to assess the inflammatory status, while serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) along with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were employed to assess liver function. Histopathological examination of liver tissues was also conducted. MSG treatment significantly impaired antioxidant defenses and increased both oxidative and inflammatory markers, leading to hepatocellular injury. Conversely, vitamin C administration effectively restored antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative and inflammatory mediators, and retained normal liver architecture. These results indicate that vitamin C represents a viable therapeutic approach for counteracting MSG-induced hepatic toxicity by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation.

KEYWORDS: Vitamin C, monosodium glutamate, Inflammation, and Liver