Ameliorative Effects of Caffeic Acid on Lead Accumulation and Oxidative Stress in Lead-Exposed Mice

Background The currently approved treatment for lead toxicity is chelation therapy to reduce the burden of the toxic effects of lead, but the safety and efficacy of the various chelating agents may be questioned. Objectives This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid, a dietary non-flavonoid phenolic acid, on lead accumulation and lead-induced oxidative stress in mice. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, 24 mice were divided into four groups. Group 1 served as control. Mice in group 2 received water containing 1000 ppm lead acetate. Group 3 animals received caffeic acid (60 mg/kg body weight) i.p. during lead treatment. Mice in group 4 only received caffeic acid. At the end of the experiment (18 days), blood samples were drawn and the levels of lead and some oxidative-stress related parameters were measured. Results Blood Pb concentration increased significantly in group 2 as compared to control group. Lead exposure caused significant increase of malondialdehyde and decrease of glutathione concentrations in erythrocyte haemolysate as compared to control group. Although caffeic acid was effective in normalization of the attenuated levels of erythrocytic glutathione, its administration had no significant effect in decreasing the augmented levels of erythrocytic malondialdehyde in group 3. Values of other measured parameters including erythrocytic activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase did not change significantly among experimental groups. Conclusions Present results show some beneficial effects of caffeic acid against lead poisoning and it can be thus proposed as a potential prophylactic treatment for amelioration of lead toxicity.