Fiber supplements from agro-industrial waste: Effect on valproic acid hepatotoxicity in rats

The agro-industrial sector is one of the biggest organic waste producers. Instead of being discarded into the environment, fruit and vegetable waste could be processed to obtain added value. This article introduces pomace fiber powder made from agroindustrial waste of fruits and vegetables. Its protective potential against hepatotoxicity induced by valproic acid was studied in Wistar rats, both as preventive and curative treatments. In the preventive test, valproic acid (250 mg/kg/day) was administered orally together with the pomace fiber powder (0.3 and 0.15 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. In the curative test, the rats received valproic acid for 14 days, followed by pomace fiber powder another 14 days, at the same amounts. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the experimental pomace fiber powder contained 15.2 ± 0.5% and 22.0 ± 1.2% of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber, respectively. This ratio made it possible to classify the new supplement as functional. The rats administered with valproic acid gained body weight and demonstrated a significant increase in serum enzyme activities, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05). These results were confirmed by histopathological examination. In both preventive and curative treatments, the supplementation normalized body weight, improved liver biomarkers, and attenuated the hepatic injury induced in rats by valproic acid. The new pomace fiber powder made of agro-industrial waste proved to be an effective raw material that attenuates the side effects associated with prolonged valproic acid administration.