Evaluation of the Potential Cytoprotective Effect of Melatonin in Comparison with Vitamin E and Trolox against Cd2+-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y, HCT 116, and HepG2 Cell Lines

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity poses a significant threat to cellular health, leading to oxidative stress and cell damage. Antioxidant agents, particularly those of natural origin, have been studied as a potential alternative for mitigating heavy metal toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant melatonin (MLT) in comparison with Vitamin E (VitE) and Trolox against Cd2+-induced cellular toxicity. The MTT assay was employed to assess cell viability in neuronal SH-SY5Y, colorectal HCT 116, and hepatic HepG2 cell lines. The results showed that all three antioxidants offered some level of protection against Cd toxicity, with Vitamin E proving to be the most effective. MLT also demonstrated a substantial cytoprotective effect, especially at the highest Cd concentration of 30 µM. These findings suggest that MLT, alongside Vit E and Trolox, could be valuable in mitigating the detrimental effects of Cd exposure by reducing the oxidative stress in these cellular models.