INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFICACY OF CONCOMITANT ADMINISTRATION OF VITAMIN C, VITAMIN E, OR THEIR COMBINATION IN MODULATING THE DNA DAMAGE AND LIPID PEROXIDATION INDUCED BY CADMIUM IN ALBINO MICE

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic and industrial pollutant that produces DNA damage and lipid peroxidation due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) are effective antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the potential protective role of VC and VE alone or in combination against Cd-induced genotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in mice liver cells. For this purpose, 40 adult male mice were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=5 each). The groups include a control group receiving vehicle, three groups treated with VC (200 mg/kg body weight), VE (200mg/kg body weight), or a combination of VC+VE at the same doses, and a group treated with Cd (2.5 mg/kg body weight) alone. The other three Cd-treated groups receiving concomitant treatment with VC, VE or a combination of VC+VE at the same doses. Comet assay was used as indicator for single strand breaks of DNA and detection of genotoxicity, while determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was used as indicator for lipid peroxidation. The results showed that co-treatment with VC, VE, or their combination (VC+VE) reduced the DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by Cd and the effect of combination (VC+VE) was superior to that of each vitamin alone in reducing the DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. These protective effects may be attributed to their antioxidant activity and scavenging of ROS.