Effect of subchronic administration of antioxidants against cigarette smoke exposure in rats

Abstract

Effects of subchronic administration of antioxidants against pulmonary damage mediated by cigarette smoke were investigated in rats. Rats were continuously received ascorbic acid, N-acetylcysteine and ginseng extract together drinking water from day 25 after birth. After 30 days of antioxidant supplementation, rats were exposed to cigarette smoke generated from six cigarettes (11 mg tar) for 20 min per day throughout 30 days, and then several biochemical markers related to the redox status in vivo were analyzed in the respiratory system. The cigarette smoke induced mild histological changes in trachea and lungs. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the lung was significantly increased, and catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were increased less than SOD, but total sulfhydryl compounds (Total-SH) content was decreased by cigarette smoking. In spite of the increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes, the inhibitory capacity of lung preparations on in vitro lipid peroxidation using ox brain homogenates was decreased and the change in the capacity was not related to the changes of these intracellular enzymes activities, but with the content of Total-SH. On the other hand, the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the ratio of elastase to anti-protease in the lung homogenates were significantly increased. Supplementation of antioxidants, however, effectively attenuated all of such alterations induced by cigarette smoke. These results indicate that although cigarette smoking induces antioxidant enzymes in the lung as a self defense mechanism, it seems to be not sufficient to protect the pulmonary system, and that chronic antioxidant feeding could be effective to reduce pulmonary damage induced by free radicals.

Evaluation of Salivary Total Antioxidant Capacity in Smokers with Severe Chronic Periodontitis

“…5 peroxidase activities, were increased in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. The mentioned study showed that using supplementation of antioxidants before smoking attenuated the harmful effects of cigarette on the pulmonary system; however, it was not enough to protect the organs completely (39). The current study revealed that salivary TAOC was higher in female than male subjects.…”

Antioxidant Properties of Ginseng (P. ginseng C.A. Meyer) Extracts by Organic Solvent Fractionation

“…DPPH is one of the chromogen radical compounds that can directly react with antioxidants (22). When the DPPH radical is scavenged by antioxidants through donation of hydrogen to form a stable DPPH-H molecule, the color changes from purple to yellow (4,23). In the present study, the DPPH radicals were dose dependently scavenged by the various solvent extracts of ginseng in doses dependant ranging from 2 to 8 mg/mL.…”

“…It is most often used as a general tonic, and it involves a wide range of pharmacological actions, such as antiaging, adaptogen-like effects to foreign deleterious substances, immunoenhancement, antistress, antitumor, etc (1,2). Many of its effects have been attributed to its antioxidant action (3,4). In general, the pharmacological effects of ginseng roots have been attributed to ginsenosides, which are widely considered to be major components that contribute to the medicinal activities (5,6).…”

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in rats exposed to cigarette smoke

“…Cigarette smoke also generates ROS indirectly from activated polymorphnuclear leucocytes or pulmonary alveolar macrophages (2). The increased production of ROS by smoke can produce a condition of oxidative stress that can result in the oxidation of lipids, induction of DNA single-strand breakage, inactivation of certain proteins, and the disruption of biological membranes (12,24). Cigarette smoking is known to be associated with various chronic pulmoner and cardiovasculer diseases ranging from inflammation to cancer (4,5,7).…”

“…Important antioxidant enzymes include copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese SOD, ceruloplasmin (Cp), selenium glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase. Non-enzymatic antioxidants include vitamin C, α-tocopherol, provitamin A carotenoids, and urate can also act to reduce of free radicals (10,13,24).…”