Role of arginine, a component of aqueous garlic extract, in remediation of sodium arsenite induced toxicity in A375 cells

Abstract

Arsenic contamination of ground water is emerging as a potential threat to human health. A report from our laboratory showed that aqueous garlic extract (AGE) had an extensive modulatory effect on arsenic toxicity. Moreover AGE formed a precipitate when incubated with NaAsO₂ overnight. Mass spectral analysis showed arginine to be one component of AGE responsible for forming the precipitate with NaAsO₂. We further confirmed the role of arginine in mitigation of arsenic toxicity in A375 cells. Incubation of A375 cells with NaAsO₂ (10 μM) for 24 h caused a reduction in cell viability, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, a reduction of the activities of the intracellular enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants and also an enhancement of lipid peroxidation. Arginine (60 μM) along with NaAsO₂ almost normalized the altered cell viability, modulated ROS level and activities of antioxidant indices. Arginine also blunted arsenic induced genotoxicity and elevated the expression of poly-ADP ribose polymerase.