Prophylactic effect of α-linolenic acid and α-eleostearic acid against MeHg induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and structural changes in RBC membrane

The present study was undertaken to evaluate under in vivo condition the effects of α-linolenic acid and α-eleostearic acid against methyl mercury (MeHg) induced oxidative stress. Male albino rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 was under normal control and Group 2 was treated with methyl mercury chloride (MeHgCl; 5 mg/kg BW/day). Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were orally treated with different doses of the two fatty acids (0.5% and 1.0% of total lipid given for each kind of linolenic acid isomer) along with MeHgCl (5 mg/kg BW). Comet assay of blood lymphocytes showed that administration of α-linolenic acid reduced DNA damage significantly (P < 0.05). Results also showed that activity of antioxidant enzymes of plasma and brain tissue and total antioxidant capacity in plasma decreased significantly due to oxidative stress generated by MeHgCl. Administration in higher dose of both kind of linolenic acid restored all the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and also reduced lipid peroxidation and increased total antioxidant capacity in plasma. Both kinds of linolenic acid successfully maintained the RBC membrane integrity which was totally disrupted and became flat due to MeHgCl stress. α-Linolenic acid was more efficient antioxidant than α-eleostearic acid against oxidative DNA damage.