Oral co-administration of α-lipoic acid, quercetin and captopril prevents gallium arsenide toxicity in rats

Gallium arsenide (GaAs), an inter-metallic semiconductor, known to exhibit superior optical and electronic properties compared to silicon, promotes its use in semiconductor industries. Extensive use of GaAs will inevitably lead to an increase in the exposure of workers manufacturing these products. Antioxidants are exogenous or endogenous compounds acting in several ways, including scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) or their precursors, inhibiting ROS formation, and binding metal ions needed for the catalysis of ROS generation. In the present study we investigated the protective efficacy of α-lipoic acid, quercetin and captopril individually against gallium arsenide exposure. Co-administration of α-lipoic acid with GaAs was most effective in reducing GaAs induced inhibition of blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, liver, kidney and brain reduced glutathione (GSH) level and elevation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Captopril, on the other hand was effective in reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels, while quercetin reduced ROS in liver and kidney. The results suggest comparatively better preventive efficacy of concomitant α-lipoic acid administration during Gallium arsenide exposure compared to quercetin and captopril in preventing GaAs induced oxidative stress.