Abstract
Arsenic is a significant environmental public health concern. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible immunotoxic and genotoxic roles of arsenic and the ameliorative effects of quercetin and probiotics as natural antioxidants. This study was performed on male adult Wistar rats divided into six groups: control, NaAsO2-treated, quercetin-treated, probiotic–treated, NaAsO2 and quercetin-treated, and NaAsO2 and probiotics-treated. Blood samples collected from all animals were prepared for some oxidative, immunological and genetic aspects. Administration of arsenic decreased body and spleen weight, reduced serum antioxidant defense parameters and DNA content, increased liver, kidney, and brain weights, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and serum cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ). Adding quercetin to arsenic was effective in restoring the altered values of cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), MPO, MDA, catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) induced by arsenic, whereas the presence of probiotics was effective in reducing genotoxicity and improving the changes of cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Quercetin and probiotics are excellent antioxidant therapies, through their ability to suppress reactive oxygen species ROS production, which may contribute to arsenic toxicity.
Highlights
Arsenic (As) is a significant environmental public health concern worldwide, due to its wide distribution and increased hazard in humans and animals [1]
Animals were divided into six groups (n=15) and were orally treated by gastric tube for 4 weeks as follows: Group I control animals were given a 2 mL daily dose of distilled water; Group II animals received NaAsO2 daily at a dose of 5 mg kg-1 dissolved in water as the minimum dose that induces toxicity in the rats [17]; Group III animals received quercetin at a dose of 50 mg kg-1 dissolved in water [18]; Group IV animals were administered probiotic at dose of 2 mL containing 2 × 109 colony forming units dissolved in water [19]; Group V and Group VI animals received NaAsO2 (5 mg kg-1) and were treated orally with quercetin (50 mg kg-1) and probiotic (2 × 109 cfu), respectively
Administration of NaAsO2 led to a significant (p 0.0001) decrease in body weight gain compared with control (Table 1)
Summary
Arsenic (As) is a significant environmental public health concern worldwide, due to its wide distribution and increased hazard in humans and animals [1]. The primary route of As exposure for most of the population is by the ingestion of contaminated food or water and inhalation from contaminated sources. Most ingested and inhaled As is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and lungs into the blood stream and distributed to a large number of organs [3]. Toxic effects of As are mediated primarily by triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and alterations in cells’ intrinsic antioxidant defenses [4] as well as the release of pro-inflammatory factors, including cytokines [5]. To evaluate oxidative stress and antioxidant defense, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) are normally determined [6]. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme present in neutrophils and can be used as an indirect marker for inflammation and toxicity [7]
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