Abstract
Background and Objective: Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) is an environmental contaminant widely recognized as a carcinogen, mutagen and teratogen toward humans and animals. The objective was to study the toxicity induce by K2Cr2O7 and to evaluate the possible ameliorating effect of vitamin-C on potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) induced oxidative stress and generation of inflammatory response in rats. Materials and Methods: Adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of five animals each: Group I-N received single i.p., injection of normal saline and served as normal control group; group II (K2Cr2O7)-K group was subjected to a single i.p., injection of potassium dichromate (15 mg kg(-1)) to induce toxicity; while the group III (K2Cr2O7,+ Vitamin C)-CK group was pretreated with single i.p., injection of vitamin-C (250 mg kg(-1)), 6 h prior to administration of potassium dichromate. The group IV (Vitamin-C only)-C group received single i.p., injection of vitamin-C in saline (250 mg kg(-1)). The body weight of each animal was recorded before and after completion of the respective treatment. Oxidative stress markers like MDA, glutathione levels and serum interleukins (IL-10, IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18 and TNF-alpha) were determined in all of rats studied. Comparison between the groups was performed by one way ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak test. Pearson's correlation coefficient was performed to study the correlation between interleukins in K and CK group. Results: The K2Cr2O7 administration increased serum IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels significantly (p<0.001) compared to saline treated control group. The levels of MDA and glutathione were altered significantly (p<0.001) in dichromate treated group compared to the control. These changes were reversed significantly (p<0.001) in animals receiving a pretreatment of vitamin-C. Conclusion: It is concluded that potassium dichromate is known to induce oxidative stress and inflammation in rats and the toxicity is reversed by the chemoprotective and anti-inflammatory property of vitamin-C.