The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chard on valproic acid (VPA)-induced cardiac damage. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped as control, chard given control (100 mg/kg/day, by gavage), VPA (500 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) and chard given VPA (100 mg/kg/day chard by gavage, 500 mg/kg/day VPA, intraperitoneally). The aqueous extracts of chard leaves were given 1 h prior to administration of VPA for 7 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total sialic acid (SA) levels and catalase (CAT) activity significantly increased in the VPA group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Chard administration significantly decreased MDA and SA levels in the control and in the VPA groups (P < 0.05). Chard administration also significantly increased CAT activities and glutathione levels both in the control and in the VPA groups (P < 0.05). As a conclusion, chard consumption may prevent cardiac tissue from oxidative stress and inflammation in VPA-induced toxicity.