Ameliorative Effects of Caffeic Acid on Lead Accumulation and Oxidative Stress in Lead-Exposed Mice

Abstract

Background: The currently approved treatment for lead toxicity is chelation therapy to reduce the burden of the toxic effects of lead, but the safety and efficacy of the various chelating agents may be questioned. Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid, a dietary non-flavonoid phenolic acid, onlead accumulation and lead-induced oxidative stress in mice. MaterialsandMethods: In this experimentalstudy, 24miceweredivided into four groups. Group1 served as control. Miceingroup 2 received water containing 1000 ppm lead acetate. Group 3 animals received caffeic acid (60 mg/kg body weight) i.p. during lead treatment. Mice in group 4 only received caffeic acid. At the end of the experiment (18 days), blood samples were drawn and the levels of lead and some oxidative-stress related parameters were measured. Results: Blood Pb concentration increased significantly in group 2 as compared to control group. Lead exposure caused significant increase of malondialdehydeanddecreaseof glutathioneconcentrationsin erythrocytehaemolysateascomparedto controlgroup. Although caffeic acid was effective in normalization of the attenuated levels of erythrocytic glutathione, its administration had no significant effect in decreasing the augmented levels of erythrocytic malondialdehyde in group 3. Values of other measured pa- rameters including erythrocytic activities of glutathione peroxidaseandsuperoxide dismutase did not change significantlyamong experimental groups. Conclusions: Present results show some beneficial effects of caffeic acid against lead poisoning and it can be thus proposed as a potential prophylactic treatment for amelioration of lead toxicity.