Protective Effect of Thyme Leaf on Metabolic Changes Induced by Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is widely used as a food additive, and there is a growing concern that excitotoxins such as MSG play an important role in the development of metabolic disorders. Therefore, studies on MSG are increasing day by day. In this study, the protective effect of thyme on the metabolic syndrome caused by MSG was investigated. Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups, 8 in each group, as a control group, thyme group (250 mg/kg), MSG group (2g/kg), and MSG + thyme group. At the end of the 28-day trial, the rats were sacrificed and their blood was taken. The blood was centrifuged and the serum was separated. AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, glucose, insulin, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin levels of serums, and 8-OHdG levels were measured in the Van YYU Faculty of Medicine Biochemistry laboratory using Abbott brand commercial kits. In addition, liver and kidney tissues were examined with only hispatological tests. Compared to the control group, the serum glucose level increased significantly in the MSG group. The serum glucose level of the MSG + thyme group decreased significantly from the MSG group. There was a slight increase in serum AST and ALT levels in the MSG group. As a result, it was concluded that the administration of MSG may have disrupted the carbohydrate metabolism by increasing the serum glucose level significantly. It was observed in the study that the thyme plant could cause this effect to decrease.