Mohammed M Safhi
Tellurium (Te) has been reported to be toxic to humans but its application in industries is growing at rapid pace. Mitochondria are responsible to generate the chemical energy to regulate the fuelling of cellular processes. The decay of the mitochondria in the brain cells is a primary cause of all neurodegenerative disorders from Parkinson's to dementia. Animals were divided into 5 groups; group 1st was control. Group 2nd received Te as sodium tellurite (4.15 mg, 1/20th of LD50) orally once daily for 15 days. Groups 3rd and 4th were pretreated with zingerone (50 and 100 mg/kg b. wt respectively once daily for 15 days) followed by 15 days treatment with Te (orally once daily). On day 16, after the completion of Te dosing, the animals were sacrificed and brains were taken out to isolate the mitochondria. The content of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was increased significantly and the content of glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes; glutathione peroxidase (GPx) glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were decreased significantly in the brain mitochondria of Te treated group as compared to the brain mitochondria of control group and these changes were protected significantly and dose dependently with the treatment of zingerone in Te+Z1 and Te+Z2 groups. The above study indicates that the zingerone which is part of our diet may be used as the best tool for the prevention of Te toxicity.
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