Protective Effects of Vitamin C and Chitosan against Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Common Carp (Cyprinuscarpio)

Background: Cadmium (Cd) intoxication can cause oxidative stress and involve the antioxi-dant defense system in hepatocytes. Administration of vitamin C, chitosan, or a combination of both may prevent Cd-induced oxidative damage. Methods:Cyprinus carpio were distributed into six groups. The control group received normal feed (Group I). Group II was exposed to 0.2 mg.L-1 cadmium chloride. Group III were fed 1000 mg chitosan per 1 kg feed. Group IV was exposed to 0.2 mg.L-1 cadmium chloride and fed with1000 mg chitosan per 1 kg feed while Group V was exposed to 0.2 mg.L-1 cadmium chlo-ride and was fed with 1000 mg vitamin C per 1 kg feed. Group VI, however, was exposed to 0.2 mg.L-1 cadmium chloride and was fed with 1000 mg vitamin C combined with 1000 mg chi-tosanper 1 kg feed. After 21 days of experiment, activities of hepatic enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. Results:Exposure to CdCl2 caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels and al-tered alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities in liver tissues. Hepatic antioxidant capacity, catalase, and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities significantly decreased in fishes exposed to CdCL2 as compared to the control group. Treatment with vitamin C and vitamin C combined with chitosan significantly ameliorated these changes. Conclusion:The present findings suggest that the administration of chitosan failed to restore biochemical parameters to normal levels. However, these findings demonstrate that vitamin C and vitamin C combined with chitosan protect the fish against the toxic effects of CdCl2 on the examined biochemical parameters in liver tissues.