Protective and therapeutic effects of okra seed in acute nontraumatic brain injury

The purpose of this study was to examine the protective and therapeutic effects of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [AE]) seed extract, with its known antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties, in an acetaminophen (paracetamol, N-acetyl- para-aminophenol)-induced model of hepatotoxicity and subsequent acute non-traumatic brain damage.

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five equal groups, control, paracetamol (P), okra seed extract (AE), okra seed extract + paracetamol (P + AE), and okra seed extract + paracetamol + N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (P + AE + N). AE was administered by oral gavage through a gastric tube at 600 mg/kg/day for seven days. On the eighth day of the procedure, a single 1 g/kg dose of paracetamol and 300 mg/kg NAC were injected via the intraperitoneal route 1.5 h after AE administration. Rat tissue specimens were subsequently subjected to biochemical and histopathological analyses. Levels of markers such as S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and matrix membrane metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were investigated from rat serum specimens. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also measured to determine oxidant-antioxidant status.

S100B, NSE, MMP-9, MDA levels, and SOD enzyme activities were examined using biochemical methods. MDA levels were significantly lower in the P + AE group and MMP-9 levels in the AE, P + AE, and P + AE + N groups compared to the P group. Histopathological examination results supported the biochemical findings.

Okra seed extract exhibits a protective and therapeutic effect against non-traumatic brain damage resulting from acute paracetamol intoxication. We think that this benefit of AE derives from its antioxidant property.