COMPARATIVE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF N-ACETYLCYSTEINE AND GALLIC ACID ON ANTIOXIDANT AND ACETYL CHOLINE STATUS OF MERCURY INTOXICATED RATS

ABSTRACT

Mercuric Chloride (HgCl₂) is one of the most toxic heavy metal which induces oxidative stress in the body. And also it acts as a neurotoxin. In the present experimental study, the antioxidant and acetyl choline property of mercury intoxicated brain tissue of rat was investigated. And withdrawal effect of mercury toxicity in the brain tissue with the help of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Gallic acid (GA) treatments were also investigated. NAC and GA, at a concentration of 30mg/kg body weight, accelerate the oxidation of neurotoxicity induced by HgCl₂ (1.29mg/kg Body weight of the animal). The aim of this study was to investigate the protective potential of N-acetylcysteine and Gallic acid against Hgcl₂ induced brain damage. The antioxidant activities of NAC and GA concentration were mainly due to the scavenging of lipid peroxide in this system. The oxidant mechanism for NAC and GA is most likely due to the strong reducing power and weak metal Chelating ability. During the HgCl₂ – treatment, the mercury toxicants mainly induced the toxicity in the brain tissues of rats to exhibit elevated level of lipid peroxidation (LPO). At the same time the level of enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), AchE actuvity and non-enzymic antioxidants (reduced glutathione (GSH)) were significantly decreased in brain tissues. But during the recovery period (N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and Gallic acid (GA) treatment on mercury intoxicated animal), both compounds are enhances the not only the GSH levels, and also promote the AChE activities. It leads to protects cell damage against neurotoxicity induced by mercuric chloride. Histological and histopathological observations are also supporting these findings by the way of restoration of brain histoarchitecture.  Oral administration of NAC and GA for 21 days improved the status of above parameters towards normal level or near normal level. Thus, results of the present study NAC and GA exhibited potent antioxidant, neuroprotective activities on HgCl₂ induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Key words: Mercuric chloride, Neurotoxicity, N-Acetylcysteine, Gallic acid, Antioxidant.