Title:Antioxidants as a Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Strategy for Cadmium
Volume: 17
Issue: 12
Author(s): Malgorzata M. Brzóska, Sylwia Borowska and Michal Tomczyk
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antioxidants, bioelements, cadmium, interactions, oxidative stress, plant extracts, protection, vitamins.
Abstract: Epidemiological studies provide a growing number of evidences that
chronic exposure to relatively low levels of cadmium (Cd), nowadays taking place
in industrialized countries, may cause health hazard. Thus, growing interest has
been focused on effective ways of protection from adverse effects of exposure to
this heavy metal. Because numerous effects to Cd’s toxic action result from its prooxidative
properties, it seems reasonable that special attention should be directed to
agents that can prevent or reduce this metal-induced oxidative stress and its consequences
in tissues, organs and systems at risk of toxicity, including liver, kidneys,
testes, ears, eyes, cardiovascular system and nervous system as well as bone tissue.
This review discusses a wide range of natural (plant and animal origin) and synthetic
antioxidants together with many plant extracts (e.g. black and green tea, Aronia melanocarpa,
Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Ocimum sanctum, Phoenix dactylifera, Physalis peruviana, Zingiber officinale)
that have been shown to prevent from Cd toxicity. Moreover, some attention has been focused
on the fact that substances not possessing antioxidative potential may also prevent Cd-induced
oxidative stress and its consequences. So far, most of the data on the protective effects of the natural
and synthetic antioxidants and plant extracts come from studies in animals’ models; however, numerous
of them seem to be promising preventive/therapeutic strategies for Cd toxicity in humans. Further
investigation of prophylactic and therapeutic use of antioxidants in populations exposed to Cd environmentally
and occupationally is warranted, given that therapeutically effective chelation therapy for
this toxic metal is currently lacking.
