Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of food enhancer that is commonly used worldwide, and fewer
studies were done about its cardiovascular effects which is common cause of morbidity and mortality in human.
This study was designed to assess the cardiotoxicity of MSG and to evaluate the potential modulatory
antioxidant effect of quercetin which is a natural polyphenolic flavonoid. fifty adult albino rats were divided
into five equal groups: negative control; positive control; quercetin treated; MSG-treated and “MSG +
quercetin” treated. A single daily dose of quercetin (50mg/kg) and MSG (4g/kg) were given orally for 45 days
according to the study regimen. The present study illustrated cardiotoxic effects of MSG evidenced by a
significant increase in the serum creatine phosphokinase (CK-MB) activity, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level and
tissue malondialdehyde level (MDA) along with significant decrease in tissue glutathione-s- transferase (GST)
level; and histological changes in cardiac architecture (cloudy swelling with fiber separation and vascular
congestion. & hemorrhage) in MSG treated group. The addition of quercetin with MSG showed significant
improvement of previously mentioned changes.