Background: Arsenic is a well-documented human carcinogen widely distributed in the environment. Chronic exposure of humans to inorganic arsenicals causes many adverse health effects. The present work was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Syzygium cumini seed extract (SCE) on arsenic-induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. Group 1 served as normal control, Group 2 received SCE, 200 mg/kg daily, and Group 3 received arsenic, 100 ppm in drinking water. Groups 4 and 5 received SCE, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively, daily, simultaneously with 100 ppm arsenic in drinking water. After 60 days, blood samples were collected and comet assay was performed using isolated lymphocytes. Activities of serum marker enzymes were assayed and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were estimated. Serum catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and blood reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured.     

Results: Exposure to arsenic caused a significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin, accompanied by a decrease in total protein levels as well as CAT and SOD activities, and GSH. Enhanced LPO and lymphocyte DNA damage was also observed in arsenic-administered rats. The arsenic-induced toxicity was significantly reversed by the simultaneous administration of SCE at both the lower and higher dosages.

Conclusions: This investigation offers strong evidence for the hepato-protective and antioxidative effects of SCE against arsenic-induced oxidative stress.