Mitigating Hexavalent Chromium Induced Oxidative Stress Through

Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is an important environmental contaminant associated with industrial activities such as leather tanning, electroplating, mining, pigments and metal processing. Unlike the relatively less bioavailable Cr (III) and Cr (VI) can readily enter biological cells and undergo intracellular reduction, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive chromium intermediates. These processes may result in oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and disruption of cellular antioxidant defence mechanisms. Hence, manmade environmental pollution by trace metals suggests that the world may be facing a silent epidemic of environmental metal poisoning. In the present study four months old inbred Wistar strain male rats (Rattus rattus albino) were selected from laboratory conditions for experiments and different methods for analysis of biochemical assay were used. In present study, observations reveal heavy metals induced ROS damage on tissues i.e. oxidative stress including lipid peroxidation and the ROS mediated alternation of scavenging through non – enzymatic antioxidants as selenium (Se), glutathione (GSH) and α – tocopherol were studied and find out positive results. These findings suggest that antioxidant interventions may protect against Cr (VI) toxicity not only by directly scavenging ROS but also by regulating cellular antioxidant and inflammatory signalling pathways. Hence, one of the significant benefits of the present study on ROS will perhaps be in designing a suitable antioxidant therapy to control ROS mediated disorders and diseases processes.