title: Cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity and its abrogation by thymoquinone.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd(2+) ) causes alteration of the cellular homeostasis and oxidative damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective role of thymoquinone (TQ), a predominant bioactive component present in black seed oil (Nigella sativa) on the hepatotoxicity of Cd(2+) with special reference to its protection against perturbation of nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. The effect of TQ pretreatment was examined in postnuclear supernatant prepared from liver of Swiss albino mice under in vitro conditions. CdCl(2) treatment (5 mM) resulted in a significant increase in antioxidant enzymatic activities. It also caused a significant (p < 0.001) increase in protein carbonyl and reduced glutathione content. Pretreatment with TQ (10 μM) showed a significant protection as manifested by noticed attenuation of protein oxidation and rejuvenation of the depleted antioxidants of cellular fraction. These results strengthen the hypothesis that TQ exerts modulatory influence on the antioxidant defense system on being subjected to toxic insult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110 062, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Faraz
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zafeer
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waseem
authors.forename: Shaista
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Suhel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parvez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016227:Benzoquinones; D020011:Protective Agents; D002104:Cadmium; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; C003466:thymoquinone