Affiliation:
1. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Kenya, P. O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
2. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Health Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P. O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Abstract
Sodium metabisulfite (SMB) is a biocide and antioxidant agent generally used as a preservative in food and beverage industries but can oxidize to harmful sulfite radicals. A standardized Ginkgo biloba (EGb-761) has demonstrated potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which is beneficial for the treatment of diseases that exhibit oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study sought to investigate the putative ameliorative effects of EGb-761 against SMB-induced toxicity in mice. Thirty-two male Swiss white mice were randomized into control, SMB-treated, SMB + EGb-761-treated, and EGb-761-treated groups. EGb-761 (100 mg/kg/day) and SMB (98 mg/kg/day) were administered by gastric gavage for 40 days. Oral administration of EGb-761 restored SMB-induced decrease in body weight and prevented SMB-induced thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, and anemia. Furthermore, EGb-761-treatment protected against SMB-induced liver and kidney injury depicted by decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and albumin. Furthermore, EGb-761 treatment attenuated SMB-driven dyslipidemia and metabolic acidosis. Besides, EGb-761 supplementation abrogated SMB-driven oxidative stress as depicted by stabilized reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and lungs. SMB induced a significant increase of tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), serum nitric oxide (NO), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) which were abrogated by EGb-761 treatment. In conclusion, these results deepen our understanding of EGb-761 in light of various detrimental effects of SMB-driven toxicities. These findings provide a novel approach that can be optimized for preventing or treating exposure due to SMB toxicity.