A 43 kD protein from the herb, Cajanus indicus L., protects against fluoride induced oxidative stress in mice erythrocytes

Present study has been carried out to evaluate the protective and curative roles of a 43 kD protein isolated from the herb Cajanus indicus L. on sodium fluoride (NaF) induced toxicity in mice erythrocytes. In the preventive study, mice were divided into five groups consisting of six in each for the experiments. Group I animals got water and used as normal controls, animals of groups II and IV were exposed to 600 ppm fluoride in water for 7 days. Animals of group III were treated with the protein (2 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally for 7 days followed by NaF treatment for next 7 days (600 ppm). Animals of group V were treated with NaF (600 ppm) followed by the protein treatment (2 mg/kg body weight) for the same time as mentioned for group III. In the curative study, four groups of six mice were compared. Erythrocytes were isolated, and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as the levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG), total thiols and lipid peroxidation end products were measured in those cells. There was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation along with a decrease in total thiols and SOD activity in the erythrocytes of NaF only and NaF bovine serum albumin treated animals. The 43 kD protein treatment in animals either prior or post to fluoride administration normalized the levels of parameters measured and restored the SOD activity in mice erythrocytes. Data suggest that the 43 kD protein possesses significant protective and curative activity against NaF induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes.