Potential effects of some antioxidants against lead toxicity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of quercetin or zinc and their mixture against lead toxicity.Thirty five adult male albino rats were divided into five groups of seven rats in each. The first was a control group, the second and third group received lead nitrate and quercetin orally in adose of 20 and 50mg/kg b.wt /day respectively; the fourth group was i.p ingected with 2mg/kg b.wt/day of zinc.The last group supplemented both antioxidants (quercetin&zinc) for 2 weeks. Lead administration showed a significant elevation in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and in serum level of total bilirubin beside reduction in serum level of albumin .The concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) ,GSH/GSSG ratio and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly decreased in the liver of rats that had received lead while oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were significantly increased. The results of the current study showed significant improvement in serum biochemical parameters beside reduction in alterations in liver antioxidant defense status mainly through glutathione dependent system. It can be concluded that best amelioration was occurred in lead-toxicated rats that received both antioxidants for 2 weeks and quercetin acts synergistically with zinc to protect and in abating some hazards of lead on liver tissue