Abstract
Heavy metals are harmful to
both the environment and human health. One of these heavy metals is cobalt.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
effects of lycopene on change of lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and heart
of experimentally exposed mice with cobalt (Co). Experimental protocol: For
this purpose, 30 Swiss Albino male mice of 3-4 months of age and weight ranging
from 45 to 50 g were used. Mice were subdivided in to 3 groups including
control, cobalt and cobalt lycopene (combined). The control group mice were
given 3 mg/kg/day saline (by intramuscular injection) and 10 mg/kg/day saline
(orally) for 30 days in order to achieve equality with administration to the
mice in the experimental group). At the end of this process, malondialdehit
(MDA), glutathione (GSH), vitamin-E and β -carotene were analyzed in the
prepared homogenates. According to findings;
Increase in liver MDA levels in cobalt group was significant (p <0.01).
Additionally, it was found out that cobalt toxicities increased the
level of MDA in the heart most (p<0,001). The level of GSH in the tissue of
liver, kidney and heart of the cobalt group were lower than control and combined group (p<0,001). However, the kidney and the liver vitamin E
level of the both control and combined group were very lower according to
control group (p<0,001), but not important in liver (p>0.05). It
was observed that liver and kidney β-carotene level in cobalt group was lower
than control and combined group. This decrease is statistically significant in
the kidney (p<0.05), but this decrease is statistically insignificant in the
liver (p>0.05). As a result, increasing the antioxidant levels of GSH,
vitamin E and β-carotene together with lycopene application may play an
important role in preventing the negative effects of lycopene on free radicals
(MDA, etc.) caused by acute cobalt oxidation