Pentachlorophenol-induced hemotoxicity diminishes antioxidant potential and oxidizes proteins, thiols, and lipids in rat blood: An in vivo study

• Published in: Heliyon 2023-05, Vol.9 (5), p.e16240-e16240, Article e16240
• Main Authors: Maheshwari, Nikhil, Khan, Aijaz Ahmed, Mahmood, Riaz, Salam, Samreen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; antioxidant activity; Antioxidant status; blood; corn oil; glucose; glutathione; glycolysis; hepatotoxicity; Histopathology; humans; hydrogen peroxide; Liver; oxidation; Oxidative stress; Pentachlorophenol; rats; RBC; species; thiols; wood preservatives; xanthine oxidase
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16240

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an excessively used wood preservative and pesticide, which has resulted in human exposure raising concerns about its potential toxic effects. This study is designed to evaluate the hemotoxicity of PCP in adult rats. Wistar rats were orally administered PCP (25–150 mg/kg bw) for five days while untreated (control) rats received corn oil. Animals were sacrificed, blood was taken and fractionated into plasma and red blood cells (RBC). PCP administration increased methemoglobin formation but decreased methemoglobin reductase activity. Significantly increased hydrogen peroxide level indicates initiation of oxidative stress condition in blood. PCP increased the oxidation of thiols, proteins and lipids, lowered glutathione levels, and compromised the antioxidant status of RBC in treated rats. Enzymes of the pathways of glucose breakdown, glycolysis and phosphogluconate pathway, were inhibited. Markers of liver damage were increased in the plasma of PCP-treated rats suggesting hepatotoxicity. This was confirmed by histopathological analysis of stained liver sections. Activity of xanthine oxidase, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating pro-oxidant enzyme, was increased. These hematological changes could be a result of the increased generation of ROS or direct chemical transformation by transient reaction species. These results show that PCP induces redox imbalance, diminishes antioxidant potential, inhibits metabolic pathways, and oxidizes cellular components in rat blood. This study suggests an elaborated possible molecular mechanism of PCP toxicity, and similar compounds so that methods can be devised to minimize its damaging effect. •Pentachlorophenol (PCP) increases pro-oxidant enzyme xanthine oxidase in plasma.•PCP enhances oxidation of thiols, proteins and lipids in rat blood.•PCP impairs the antioxidant status and inhibits enzymes of glucose breakdown.•PCP increases plasma AST and ALT levels and causes histological abrasions in liver.•A leading step to device curative methods against PCP-induced hemotoxicity.