Mitigative role of garlic and vitamin E against cytotoxic,genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of lead acetate and mercury chloride on WI-38 cells

Background

Lead acetate (Led) and mercury chloride (Mer) represent important ecological and public health concerns due to their hazardous toxicities. Naturally found products play a vital role in chemopreventive agent innovation. The current study aimed to assess the modifying effect of garlic (Gar) and/or vitamin E (Vit E) against the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) Led and/or Mer-induced cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects.

Methods

Human lung cells (WI-38) were pretreated with Gar and/or Vit E for 24 h and then treated with Led and/or Mer either alone or with their combination for 24 h. Cytotoxicity of Led and Mer and the viability of Gar and Vit E were assessed using MTT assay. The alkaline comet assay was used to assess DNA damage, whereas QRT-PCR was performed to evaluate p53, Bax, and Bcl2 mRNA-expression.

Results

The results of this study showed that IC50 of Led was (732.72 μg/mL) and for Mer was (885.83 μg/mL), while cell viability effective dose for Gar was (300 μg/mL) and for Vit E was (26,800 μg/mL). Treating cells with the IC50-concentration of Led or Mer or their combination using half IC50 of both of them induced severe DNA-damage. Bax-expression was increased, while p53 and Bcl2-expressions were decreased. Pretreatment of cells with Gar and/or Vit E ameliorated the previous alternations.

Conclusions

Led and Mer can induce oxidative stress and change the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in WI-38 cells. Gar and Vit E may be promising protective candidate agent against the toxic effect of heavy metals.