Mitigative Effects of Antioxidants in Lead Toxicity

Lead is a toxic metal pollutant persisting in nature as oxides or salts. It poses as an occupational and environmental hazard, adversely affecting multiple systems such as the hematopoietic, hepatic, nervous, and renal systems in humans and animals. Lead toxicity occurs via oxidative damage, and chelating agents conventionally used for treatment exert detrimental effects and are incapable of alleviating some toxic outcomes of lead. This finding has engendered the need for potentially safe alternative therapy, preferably possessing both chelating and antioxidant activities. Some antioxidants chelate metallic pollutants such as lead and scavenge reactive oxygen species released in excess during lead-induced oxidative damage. Several studies have affirmed the appreciable function of antioxidants singly or in combination in ameliorating lead-induced perturbations, thus offering great promise in augmenting health status and welfare of man as well as animals