en Cellular and molecular Neuroscience Cellular and molecular Neuroscience Review Review <div style="text-align: justify;">Valproic acid (VPA), which is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, has been applied in treating several neurological and psychiatric conditions. However, severe neurotoxic side effects may result from its use, especially when taken at certain developmental stages of a child&rsquo;s brain. Consequently, the present narrative review aimed not only to summarize what is presently known about the neurotoxicity of VPA and the related neuropsychiatric disorders, but also to focus on potential interventions. Most of VPA&rsquo;s neurotoxic effects are due to its ability to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cause mitochondrial dysfunction, and alter epigenetics. It also facilitates neuronal damage by distorting the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, increasing the excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These neurotoxic mechanisms are strongly associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). For example, prenatal VPA use is one of the common risk factors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is correlated with complex social and communication deficits. VPA, which is used to treat epilepsy, may paradoxically increase seizure propensity by affecting neuronal excitability and synaptic input. Understanding these pathways can help reduce VPA&rsquo;s neurotoxicity without diminishing its efficacy in sensitized children.</div> Valproic acid (VPA), Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) Neurotoxicity mechanism 25 38 http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4968-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Princewill Sopuluchukwu Udodi ps.udodi@unizik.edu.ng 13700319475328460057312 13700319475328460057312 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Joshua Izuchukwu Abugu ji.abugu@stu.unizik.edu.ng 13700319475328460057313 13700319475328460057313 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Roseline Ebube Udodi roselineudodi@gmail.com 13700319475328460057314 0009-0008-4872-4637 Yes Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Uzozie Chikere Ofoego uc.ofoego@unizik.edu.ng 13700319475328460057315 13700319475328460057315 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Emeka Christian Okafor ech.okafor@unizik.edu.ng 13700319475328460057316 13700319475328460057316 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Chukwudalu Emmanuel Orji surgecare2003@gmail.com 13700319475328460057317 0009-0001-1951-1690 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Damian Nnabuihe Ezejindu dn.ezejindu@unizik.edu.ng 13700319475328460057318 0009-0005-3983-2984 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria. Charles Oyinbo charlesoyinbo@gmail.com 13700319475328460057319 13700319475328460057319 No Department of Anatomy, College of Health Science, Niger Delta University, Abraka, Nigeria.