In vitro and in vivo reduction of sodium arsenite induced toxicity by aqueous garlic extract.
BACKGROUND
Arsenic is ubiquitous in the environment, and chronic or acute exposure through food and water as well as occupational sources can contribute to a well-defined spectrum of disease. Despite arsenic being a health hazard and a well-documented human carcinogen, a safe, effective and specific preventive or therapeutic measure for treating arsenic induced toxicity still eludes us.


OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of aqueous garlic (Allium sativum L.) extract (AGE) in terms of normalization of altered biochemical parameters particularly indicative of oxidative stress following sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)) exposure and depletion of inorganic arsenic burden, in vitro and in vivo.


RESULTS
AGE (2mg/ml) co-administered with 10 microM NaAsO(2) attenuated arsenite induced cytotoxicity, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in human malignant melanoma cells (A375), human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) and in cultured human normal dermal fibroblast cells. Moreover, AGE application in NaAsO(2) intoxicated Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in a marked inhibition of tissue lipid peroxide generation; enhanced level of total tissue sulfhydryl groups and glutathione; and also increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase to near normal. An increase in blood ROS level and myeloperoxidase activity in arsenic-intoxicated rats was effectively prevented by AGE administration. AGE was also able to counter arsenic mediated incongruity in blood hematological variables and glucose level.


CONCLUSIONS
The restorative property of AGE was attributed to its antioxidant activity, chelating efficacy, and/or oxidizing capability of trivalent arsenic to its less toxic pentavalent form. Taken together, evidences indicate that AGE can be a potential protective regimen for arsenic mediated toxicity.
Chowdhury
Rajdeep
R
Molecular and Human Genetics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India.
Dutta
Abhishek
A
Chaudhuri
Susri Ray
SR
Sharma
Nilendu
N
Giri
Ashok K
AK
Chaudhuri
Keya
K
D000818:Animals; D018053:Arsenites / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018053:Arsenites; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017670:Sodium Compounds; C017947:sodium arsenite; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase