Pharmacological Evaluation of the Impact of Fluoride-Contaminated Drinking Water on Brain Cognitive Function and Bone Health in Nalgonda and Warangal Rural Districts of Telangana in India

Abstract

A systematic groundwater analysis was carried out in six villages of Narsampet in Warangal district and two villages of Narketpally in Nalgonda district of Telangana in India. These water samples were collected from respective areas and evaluated under four different categories viz. physico-chemical parameters (such as pH, Electric Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Turbidity, Alkalinity, Hardness, Chloride, Nitrates, Sulphates, Fluoride, Iron content) as per standard methods, behavioral changes i.e. measurement of learning and memory ability of rats (Rectangular maze, Morris water maze, Locomotor activity tests), various biochemical tests for both brain homogenate (Ellaman’s, DPPH, H2O2 Catalase activity assay) and serum (GOD-POD end point Assay, Uricase/POD end point Assay, Modified Biuret end point Assay) and histopathological studies of brain and bones. The results of physico-chemical tests were compared with WHO, BIS standards and the fluoride content of all the water samples was found to be higher than the standards. The results of behavioral tests and biochemical tests indicate the decrease in antioxidant activity and acetylcholine levels in rat brains due to high fluoride induced oxidative stress and increase in the cholinesterase activity. The biochemical tests for assessing bone toxicity reveal an increase in blood glucose and uric acid levels accompanied by decrease in protein levels indicating damage to bones. Histopathological studies indicate damage to the hippocampus region of the brain, nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum of femur bone.