Oxidative Stress in Plants Exposed to Heavy Metals

Background : Toxicological consequences arising from exposure to mixtures of heavy metals especially at low, chronic and environmentally relevant doses are poorly recognised. In the present study, we evaluated effects of chronic exposure to combinations of three metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) present frequently in drinking water on reproductive function and oxidative damage caused to reproductive organs of female rats. Method : Female rats were exposed to mixture of metals (As, Cdand Pb) for 90 consecutive days. The gain in body weight and weight of reproductive organs were recorded following autopsy on 91 stday. The oestrus cycle were monitored during entire treatment period. Numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites, live fetus and survival of the fetus were evaluated in rats mated successfully with untreated male after completion of their respective treatment. Ovarian cholesterol, protein, ascorbic acid and enzyme Δ 5 -3β HSD levels were estimated. Serum levels of steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone were estimated. Histopathological picture of both ovary and uterus were assessed. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidise (GPX) activity, amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondyaldehyde (MDA) in blood, ovary and uterus were measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Results : The treated rats showed reduced body weight gain and reduction in the weight of ovary and uterus. Oestrus cycle was disrupted with continuous diestrous in treated animals. Number of corpora lutea, implantation sites and live fetus and the survival of fetus evaluate were reduced significantly in treated groups. The levels of ovarian cholesterol and ascorbic acid increased in treated rats with decrease Δ5 -3β HSD level. There was reduction in serum level of both the ovarian steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone. The protein levels did not differ between the groups. There was a significant increase in levels of MDA and decrease in levels of all the antioxidant enzymes in treated group. Conclusion : The results revealed there was disruption to reproductive functions with decrease in stereoidogenic activity and associated oxidative stress in female rats treated with combination of mixture of metals (Cd, As and Pb) at low dose for 90 consecutive days.

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Nanoencapsulation of Pomegranate Extract to Increase Stability and Potential Dermatological Protection

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13020271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 271

Author(s):

Lucía Yepes-Molina ◽

José A. Hernández ◽

Micaela Carvajal

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Heavy Metals ◽

Protective Effect ◽

Uv Radiation ◽

Entrapment Efficiency ◽

Hacat Cells ◽

Biotechnological Applications ◽

Accelerated Stability ◽

The Stability ◽

Brassica Oleracea L

Pomegranate extract (PG-E) has been reported to exert a protective effect on the skin due to its antioxidant activity. Ingredients rich in phenolic compounds are unstable in extract solutions, and, therefore, the use of a suitable nanosystem to encapsulate this type of extract could be necessary in different biotechnological applications. Thus, we investigated the capacity of Brassica oleracea L. (cauliflower) inflorescence vesicles (CI-vesicles) to encapsulate PG-E and determined the stability and the antioxidant capacity of the system over time. In addition, the protective effect against UV radiation and heavy metals in HaCaT cells was also tested. The CI-vesicles had an entrapment efficiency of around 50%, and accelerated stability tests did not show significant changes in the parameters tested. The results for the HaCaT cells showed the non-cytotoxicity of the CI-vesicles containing PG-E and their protection against heavy metals (lead acetate and mercuric chloride) and UV-B radiation through a reduction of oxidative stress. The reduction of the percentage of deleted mtDNA (mtDNA4977, “common deletion”) in UV-treated HaCaT cells due to the presence of CI-vesicles containing PG-E indicated the mechanism of protection. Therefore, the effects of CI-vesicles loaded with PG-E against oxidative stress support their utilization as natural cosmeceuticals to protect skin health against external damage from environmental pollution and UV radiation.

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Metal-induced oxidative stress level in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and its contribution to the severity of the disease: A correlational study

Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation ◽

10.3233/bmr-200102 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Varsha Shukla ◽

Siddharth Kumar Das ◽

Abbas Ali Mahdi ◽

Shweta Agarwal ◽

Ragini Alok ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Heavy Metals ◽

Fibromyalgia Syndrome ◽

Positive Association ◽

Protein Carbonyl ◽

Essential Metals ◽

Toxic Heavy Metals ◽

Essential Trace Elements ◽

Rheumatological Disease ◽

Severity Of The Disease

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is an extra-articular rheumatological disease characterised by widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain. Metal-induced oxidative stress contributes to the severity of FMS. AIMS: First, this study evaluated the association between plasma levels of toxic heavy metals and essential metals with oxidative stress (OS) markers. Second, the OS markers and metal contents were correlated with the disease severity by assessing the Fibromyalgia Impact Questioner Revised (FIQR) and tender points (TP). METHOD: A total of 105 FMS patients and 105 healthy controls of similar age and sex were recruited. OS parameter such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl group (PCG), nitric oxide (NO) and essential metals such as zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and toxic heavy metals such as aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), lead (Pb) were estimated. RESULTS: Levels of LPO, PCG, NO (p< 0.001) and Cu, Mn, and Al (p< 0.001), were significantly higher, and Mg (p< 0.001) and Zn (p< 0.001) were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. A positive association was observed between OS parameters, FIQR and TP with Cu, Al and Mn. A significant negative association was observed between Zn and Mg with FIQR, TP and OS parameters. CONCLUSION: Heavy metals such as Al induce OS parameters and decrease the levels of essential trace elements such as Mg and Zn, which may be responsible for the severity of FMS.

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Metallothionein and Glutathione Content as Biomarkers of Metal Pollution in Mussels and Local Fishermen in Abu Qir Bay, Egypt

Journal of Health and Pollution ◽

10.5696/2156-9614-6-12.50 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 50-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aziza A. Saad ◽

Amany El-Sikaily ◽

Hany Kassem

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Heavy Metals ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

The Body ◽

Metal Exposure ◽

Control Group ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Industrial Workers ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Abu Qir Bay

Background. When heavy metals accumulate in air, soil, and water, the risk of human exposure increases among industrial workers, as well as in people living near polluted areas. Heavy metals adversely affect a variety of bodily systems such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems. In addition, long-term exposure and accumulation of heavy metals in the body may disturb oxidative stress genes and thus increase the susceptibility to various diseases. Objectives. The aim of this study is to estimate the metallothionein concentration in both mussel samples from Abu Qir Bay, Egypt and the blood of local fishermen as a biomarker of exposure to metal pollution. Methods. Levels of metallothionein and heavy metals were measured in mussels. Blood levels of metallothionein and heavy metals of local fishermen were measured and compared with a control group. The effect of heavy metal exposure on oxidative stress status was investigated through the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and glutathione content. Results. The results of this study showed high concentrations of metallothionein in mussels and in fishermen's blood, accompanied by high concentrations of metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn). At the same time, a significant decrease in glutathione content and catalase enzyme activity was associated with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde concentrations in sera of fishermen. Conclusions. The present study found that the El Maadiya region is polluted with heavy metals, inducing oxidative stress in fishermen in the vicinity. These results reveal the necessity of further environmental monitoring in the study area in order to evaluate other types of pollutants and their effects on human health.

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