Protective effect of quercetin on nicotine-induced prooxidant and antioxidant imbalance and DNA damage in Wistar rats.
We have investigated the protective effect of quercetin (QN) against nicotine-induced prooxidant and antioxidant imbalance in circulation, lung, liver and kidney of experimental rats. The protective effect of QN was compared with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known antioxidant. Male albino rats of Wistar stain were used for the experimental study. Lung toxicity was induced by subcutaneous injection of nicotine at a dose of 2.5mg/kg body weight (5 days a week, for 22 weeks) and QN was given simultaneously by intragastric intubations for 22 weeks. The body weight gain of rats during experimental period was significantly decreased in nicotine treated group, whereas QN co-treated rats significantly increased in their body weight. The levels of lipid peroxidative indices viz., thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides, and nitric oxide in circulation, lung, liver and kidney of nicotine-treated rats were increased significantly when compared to normal, which were brought down to near normal in QN co-treated group. Endogenous antioxidant status viz., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione were found to be significantly decreased in circulation, lung, liver and kidney of nicotine-treated group, which were significantly increased in QN-administered groups. The extent of DNA damage (evaluated by comet assay) was significantly increased in circulatory blood of nicotine-treated rats, which was effectively brought down by QN treatment. The protective effect of QN against nicotine toxicity was comparable to that of NAC. Our data suggest that QN exerts its protective effect by modulating the extent of lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system and thus protects the DNA in experimental animals.
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608002, Tamil Nadu, India.
Shanmugavelu
S
Muthukumaran
Adluri Ram
AR
Sudheer
Venugopal P
VP
Menon
Namasivayam
N
Nalini
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D009538:Nicotine; D011794:Quercetin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000111:Acetylcysteine