RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The current study investigates the cytotoxicity mechanism of common drugs with piperazine ring such as cetirizine, olanzapine and buspirone on human lymphocytes. METHODS: The viability of lymphocytes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, lysosomal integrity, content of glutathione and lipid peroxidation was determined. RESULTS: Buspirone and cetirizine showed more toxicity than olanzapine on human lymphocytes with an IC50 value of 200 µg/ml, after 6 h of incubation. Significant ROS formation, MMP collapse, lipid peroxidation, lysosomal damage and elevation of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) were observed in treated lymphocytes concentrations (4, 20, 40 µg/ml) of buspirone and cetirizine. CONCLUSION: Our results show the exposure of human lymphocytes with buspirone and cetirizine, which usually happens during the poisoning, triggers oxidative stress and organelle damages. Our study suggests that using antioxidants, mitochondrial and lysosomal protective agents can protect blood lymphocytes, from probable side effects of these highly consumed medications.