Mitigation of arsenic poisoning induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity by Ocimum gratissimum L.

Arsenic toxicity is a major problem across the world due to geogenic activity and has been supposed to generate free radicals and genotoxicity among the arsenic-poisoned population. There is a need to find suitable free radical quenching compounds for the arsenic-induced free radical-affected population. In the present study, Na3AsO3- induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity were evaluated in Oryctolagus cuniculus L, and quenching competency of Ocimum species was examined by applying enzymatic and non-enzymatic in vitro tests, comet assay, and Random Amplified Polymorphic Deoxyribonucleic acid - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCR) methods. In the present study, oxidative damage due to Na3AsO3 intoxication in O. cuniculus L has been confirmed followed by substantive genotoxicity, and in a further study, it has also been reported that the extract of O. gratissimum L lowers the oxidative stress in experimental animals confirmed by a decrease in Malondialdehyde (MDA) 4.78 ± 0.05 (nmol/mg protein), and an increase in Glutathione (GSH) 2.87 ± 0.50 (µmoles/mg proteins), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) 1.78 ± 0.03(Units/mg protein), Catalase (CAT) 2.72 ± 0.02 (µmoles of H2O2 consumed/min/mg proteins) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) 7.43 ± 0.01 (µg of glutathione utilized/min/mg protein). A positive impact of extract of O. gratissimum L on protection of genotoxicity has been also confirmed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) based reduction in polymorphic bands of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 6.5 to 3.16 and comet assay-based increase in head DNA % (87.86 ± 1.58), tail moment (1.07 ± 0.27) and decrease in tail DNA % (12.13 ± 1.58) & tail length (8.2 ± 1.46) at 5% P in lymphocytes. A significant level reduction in free radicals and reduction in DNA polymorphism has proved the competency of test material for the development of suitable antidotes against arsenicosis.

Effect of acute exposure of sodium arsenite (Na3 Aso3) on some haematological parameters of Clarias batrachus (common Indian cat fish) in vivo.

The effect of acute arsenic exposure in the form of sodium arsenite (Na3Aso3) were studied on haematological parameters of Clarias batrachus. Three subleathal concentrations of sodium arsenite (5 ppm, 10 ppm, 15 ppm) were exposed to experimental set of 10 fishes in a glass aquarium filled with 40 L water. The parameters screened after 120 hrs exposure for each experimental set were Hb concentration, TEC, PCV and MCV MCH and MCHC were also calculated. Statistical analysis shows a significant fall in haemoglobin concentration (F=P<0.05) and PCV (F=P<0.05) but non significant fall in TEC (F=P>0.05) after exposure. Calculated value of MCV, MCH were also found significant (F=P<0.05) but MCHC was non significant (F=P>0.05). This experiment elicited disturbed haemopoiesis, erythrocyte membrane disruption, impaired iron intake by RBC and haemolysis due to arsenic intoxication which ultimately resulted haemolytic anaemia.