Pyrogallol-mediated toxicity and natural antioxidants: Triumphs and pitfalls of preclinical findings and their translational limitations

• Published in: Chemico-biological interactions 2010-02, Vol.183 (3), p.333-340
• Main Authors: Upadhyay, Ghanshyam, Gupta, Satya Prakash, Prakash, Om, Singh, Mahendra Pratap
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Brain Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - etiology; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - drug therapy; Humans; Mice; Natural antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Pyrogallol - toxicity; Rats; Translational limitations; Triumphs and pitfalls
• ISSN: 0009-2797; 1872-7786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2009.11.028

Pyrogallol, a potent anti-psoriatic drug, produces toxicity due to its ability to generate free radicals, besides its beneficial effects. Oxidative stress is implicated in pyrogallol-mediated toxicity in general and hepatotoxicity in particular. Naturally occurring antioxidants including, resveratrol and silymarin have been proposed as potential supplements to counteract pyrogallol-mediated toxicity, without reducing its efficacy. Due to increase in the popularity of natural antioxidants in combating pyrogallol-mediated toxicity, a literature-based survey was performed to assess their role in experimental studies and possible implications in real life situations. Although preclinical studies revealed the boons of naturally occurring antioxidants in attenuating/abolishing the undesirable effects of pyrogallol exposure, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate their role in clinics. In this review, an update on the recent development in assessing the potential of natural antioxidants in pyrogallol-mediated toxicity in preclinical interventions, triumphs and pitfalls of such investigations, their translational challenges and future possibilities are discussed.