title: Green tea and vitamin C ameliorate some neuro-functional and biochemical signs of arsenic toxicity in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nervous system damage is one of the consequences of oral exposure to waterborne inorganic arsenic. In this work, the role of oxidative status in the neurotoxicity of arsenic and the possible role of two foodborne antioxidants in ameliorating arsenic-related oxidative stress were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were given 10 mg/kg b.w. of trivalent inorganic arsenic (in the form of NaAsO2), 5 day/week for 6 weeks by gavage, combined with vitamin C solution (1 g/l) or green tea infusion (2.5 g in 500 ml boiled water) as antioxidants given in the drinking fluid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight gain was reduced by arsenic from the second week and the antioxidants had no effect on that. Cortical evoked potentials had increased latency, tail nerve conduction velocity was reduced, and this latter effect was counteracted by the antioxidants. The effect of green tea was stronger than that of vitamin C, and green tea also diminished lipid peroxidation induced by As. There was fair correlation between brain As levels, electrophysiological changes, and lipid peroxidation, suggesting a causal relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Natural antioxidants might be useful in the protection of the central nervous system against the toxicity of oral As.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Kitti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sárközi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horváth
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Máté
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ágnes
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Ferencz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hermesz
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Food Engineering, University of Szeged Faculty of Engineering , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krisch
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine , Szeged , Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabó
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005511:Food Handling; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013662:Tea; D066007:Toxicokinetics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013662:Tea; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Antioxidant; Arsenic; Evoked electrical activity; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Rat