Supplementation of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol prevents arsenic-induced protein oxidation and DNA damage induced by arsenic in rats

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology 2007-12, Vol.26 (12), p.939-946
• Main Authors: Kadirvel, R, Sundaram, K, Mani, S, Samuel, S, Elango, N, Panneerselvam, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacology; Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Arsenic Poisoning - metabolism; Arsenic Poisoning - prevention & control; Arsenites - toxicity; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Chemical agents; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Comet Assay; Cross-Linking Reagents; Disease Models, Animal; DNA Damage - drug effects; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enzyme Inhibitors - toxicity; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - metabolism; Liver - chemistry; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Protein Carbonylation - drug effects; Protein Carbonylation - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium Compounds - toxicity; Toxicology; Tumors; Water Supply
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327107087909

Contamination of arsenic in drinking water is associated with several human diseases including cancer. It has been reported that oxidative stress plays a vital role in arsenic-induced biochemical and molecular alterations. The aim of the present study was to improve the understanding of arsenic-induced oxidative damage to proteins and to DNA and the role of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol in alleviating arsenic-induced damages in experimental rats. A significant increase in the levels of protein oxidation, DNA strand breaks, and DNA–protein cross-links was observed in blood, liver, and kidney of rats exposed to arsenic (100 ppm in drinking water) for 30 days. Co-administration of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to arsenic-exposed rats showed a substantial reduction in the levels of arsenic-induced oxidative products of protein and DNA. The results of this study support that free radical–mediated toxic manifestations of arsenic and also suggest that ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation can improve the arsenic-induced molecular alterations.