Background: A common flavour enhancer and food additive known as monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been related to neurological effects.
Aim of the work: This study sought to determine whether MSG has any potential adverse impacts on the histology and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemical characteristics of albino rats' cerebellum. It also sought to assess any potential beneficial effects of pomegranate on these effects.
Material and methods: There were three groups of 60 male albino rats, each of similar size. A dose of 6 gm/kg/body weight of MSG is administered to Group II, whereas Group III also receives pomegranate juice in addition to the MSG administered to Group II. Cerebellar tissues were taken out and processed for H&E-stained sections after eight weeks. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify GFAP.
Results: Histological investigation performed by Group II indicated regions of inflammatory cells encircling degraded cerebellar cortex cells. However, the cerebellar cortex in group III showed a more robust histological structure.
Conclusion: Pomegranate may be able to protect against these modifications caused by MSG, which has a neurotoxic impact that causes astrocytes and neurons in albino rats' cerebellar cortex to degenerate. Pomegranate could be recommended as a food safety measure, and it's urged that consumers pay more attention to what's in their food.