R. Sumathi et al., RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLUTATHIONE AND DL ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID AGAINST CADMIUM-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY, Japanese Journal of Medical Science & Biology, 49(2), 1996, pp. 39-48
Cadmium, a divalent metal toxicant, preferentially localizes in hepato
cytes and causes liver injury. DL alpha-lipoic acid is a dithiol which
is effective in rendering protection against cadmium - associated liv
er damage, by virtue of its two sulfhydryl moieties. Lipoate was admin
istered to cadmium-exposed rats which were either prior administered w
ith buthionine sulfoximine to deplete liver glutathione or not. During
lipoate treatment, significant protection was rendered against cadmiu
m toxicity even under glutathione-depleted experimental condition. Thi
s highlights the antioxidant property of lipoic acid and its efficacy
in mitigating cadmium - associated liver assault even in the absence o
f glutathione synthesis.