Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Bisphenol A is a factor of its hepatotoxicity in rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic and endocrine disrupting agent, is widely used in manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA and other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) act via multiple mechanisms including interference with mitochondrial functions. Mitochondria are the hub of cellular energy pool and hence are the target of many EDCs. We studied perturbation of activities of mitochondrial enzymes by BPA and its possible role in hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Rats were exposed to BPA (150 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg per os, for 14 days) and activities of enzymes of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) were measured. Besides, other biochemical parameters such as superoxide generation, protein oxidation, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were also measured. Our results indicated a significant decrease in the activities of enzymes of mitochondrial ETC complexes, i.e., complex I, II, III, IV, and V along with significant increase in LPO and protein oxidation. Additionally, a significant increase in mitochondrial superoxide generation was also observed. All these findings could be attributed to enhanced oxidative stress, decrease in reduced glutathione level, and decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase in rat liver mitochondria isolated from BPA-treated rats. BPA treatment also caused a significant increase in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase indicating its potential hepatotoxicity. Furthermore, histopathological findings revealed marked edema formation, hepatocellular degeneration, and necrosis of liver tissue in BPA-exposed rats. In conclusion, this study provides an evidence of impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics and liver toxicity after high-dose BPA exposure in rats. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1922-1934, 2016.

Ellagic acid attenuates bleomycin and cyclophosphamide-induced pulmonary toxicity in Wistar rats.

Use of bleomycin (BLM) and cyclophosphamide (CP) as chemotherapeutic drugs is associated with side effects including toxicity to respiratory system. Their co-administration may enhance lung toxicity which may subsequently progress to the lung fibrosis. Natural compounds have shown mitigating effects against toxicity of anticancer drugs. Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound present in many fruits and nuts in addition to walnut has shown promising protective effect against toxicity of drugs and chemicals. We studied the ameliorative effect of EA on lung toxicity in rats exposed to CP (150 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and BLM (10 U/kg b.w., i.t.). EA (15 mg/kg b.w., p.o.×14 days) treatment modulated enhanced hydroxyproline level, lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide production and protein carbonyl formation in lungs of rats exposed to toxic anticancer drugs. There was a marked decrease in GSH content and activities of antioxidant enzymes as a result of BLM and CP treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed increased level of cytotoxicity markers in drug treated animals. Treatment with EA attenuated these changes. Histopathological findings also showed protective effects of EA. In conclusion, EA emerged as a natural protectant with an ability to protect lungs from onslaught of pulmonary toxicity of anticancer drugs.