Ameliorative effect of N-acetyl cysteine on sodium arsenite induced toxicity and oxidative stress in mice

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice. Animals were divided into four groups; the first group was used as a control. As group: mice treated with arsenic (As) as sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg bw/day), NAC group: mice treated with N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) (200mg/kg bw/day) and As + NAC Group: animals treated with sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg bw /day) plus N-Acetyl cysteine (200 mg/kg bw /day). Mice were orally administered their respective doses every day for 30 days. Results showed that NAC treatment reduced the elevation of liver enzymes Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and caspase-3 activity. On the other hand, liver and renal glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and glutathione (GSH) content significantly increased compared to arsenic group and control group. Whereas, the Malondialdehyde (MDA) content of both tissues significantly decreased in comparison with arsenic group. NAC treatment alone also improved the health status of the animal to maintain the normal level of the enzymatic antioxidant and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities in liver and kidney tissues as well as caspase-3 activity and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α level. It can be concluded that NAC possesses high antioxidant activity and more effective in preventing the injury of oxidative damage in both liver and kidney tissues during the arsenic administration.