Alterations in redox potential of glutathione/glutathione disulfide and cysteine/cysteine disulfide couples in plasma of dropsy patients with argemone oil poisoning

Several incidences of adverse effects on human health have been reported in many countries, due to consumption of edible oil adulterated with argemone oil (AO). The clinical manifestation of the disease is commonly referred to as epidemic dropsy. In the present study, we determined the relationship between redox potentials (Eh) of glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG), cysteine/cysteine disulfide (Cys/CySS) couples and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid status in plasma of dropsy patients (n = 14) from an outbreak of argemone oil poisoning in Lucknow (March, 2005), India. Depleted GSH (55%) and concomitant enhancement (163%) of plasma GSSG content was observed in patients (P < 0.05). Furthermore, lower content of Cys (42%) and CySS (25%) was noticed in patients (P < 0.05) when compared to control subjects. Eh GSH and Eh Cys values were shifted by +46 mV and +12 mV towards more oxidizing environment in patients (P < 0.05). In addition, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid contents were found to be depleted significantly (P < 0.05) in plasma of patients (59–58%). The alterations in redox potentials and antioxidants in plasma, which are synthesized in liver, may be responsible for histopathological changes in hepatic tissue of patients showing swelling of hepatocytes, fluid accumulation in spaces of Desci along with mild kupfur cell hyperplasia. Over all the present study shows that redox state of GSH/GSSG and Cys/CySS pools become oxidized which inturn causes depletion of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, thus providing a strategy to distinguish pro-oxidant and antioxidant events in patients.