title: Arjunolic acid, a triterpenoid saponin, ameliorates arsenic-induced cyto-toxicity in hepatocytes.
abstract: Arsenic is a well-established environmental toxin, which damages various organs of the body. A triterpenoid saponin, arjunolic acid (AA) has been isolated from the bark of Terminalia arjuna. The present study was conducted to investigate the preventive role of AA against arsenic-induced cytotoxicity in isolated murine hepatocytes. Sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)) was chosen as the source of arsenic. Incubation of the hepatocytes with NaAsO(2) (1 mM) for 2 h caused reduction in the cell viability and activities of the intracellular enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants. Treatment of NaAsO(2) enhanced lipid peroxidation and also increased the activities of the membrane leakage enzymes. Administration of AA (100 microg/ml) before and with the toxin almost normalized the altered activities of antioxidant indices. AA possesses free radical scavenging activity and could enhance the cellular anti-oxidant capability against NaAsO(2)-induced cyto-toxicity. The cytoprotective activity of AA was found to be comparable to that of a known antioxidant, vitamin C. Experimental results, therefore, suggest that AA protects arsenic-induced cytotoxicity in murine hepatocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Bose Institute, 93/1 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Prasenjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: Mahua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Prasanta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Parames C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001151:Arsenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000633:toxicity; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010851:Picrates; D012503:Saponins / Q000633:toxicity*; D029766:Terminalia / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005609:Free Radicals; D006834:Hydrazines; D010851:Picrates; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C061640:arjunolic acid; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001151:Arsenic