A Biological Trial on the Effect of Vitamin E and C Combination Therapy on Chronic Paraquat Toxicity

Paraquat (1,1-dimethyl-4-4-bipiridinium dichloride (PQ) is a non-selective contact herbicide that is a major source of free radicals and generates superoxide anion, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which causes severe oxidative damage. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role using its biological characteristic as a suitable antioxidant in cells’ defense against oxygen deprivation and increasing tissue protection from oxidative stress. Vitamin E is a free-radical scavenger renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of the study was to determine the short-term therapeutic effect of a vitamin E and C combination treatment on paraquat-induced male albino rats. For the study, 200 male albino rats were used. The rats were divided into four major categories namely A, B, C, and D with 50 rats each. The "A" group received no paraquat, but the "B," "C," and "D" groups received 0.02g, 0.04g, and 0.06g of paraquat respectively every two weeks for three months. These groups were subsequently subgrouped into two with 25 rats per subgroup. The "A" group was divided into two "A0" and "AVE"; “B” was subgrouped into “B0” and BVEC”; “C” was subgrouped into “C0” and “CVEC” and “D” was subgrouped into “D0” and “DVEC”. A0, B0, C0 and D0 were subgroups without Vit E and C combined treatment while AVEC, BVEC, CVEC and DVEC were subgroups with combined treatment with 500mg of vitamin E and 2000mg/l of C medicated water every week for two months. Blood was drawn for the analysis of hematogical parameters (Hemoglobin concentration [Hb], Packed Cell volume [PCV], Total White blood cell count [T-WBC], Neutrophils and Lymphocytes). There was a significant variation in the hematological parameters among the "A0", "B0", "C0", and "D0" at p-value<0.05. There was also significant variation in the hematological parameters between the "AVEC", "BVEC", "CVEC", and "DVEC", p-value < 0.05. Consequently, it was also observed that there were significant variations in intra-group comparisons of Hb and PCV, p-value<0.05, whereas other markers were not statistically different. This study found that combining vitamin E and C has a therapeutic effect on ‘blood anemia indicators’ but not the immunity of male albino rats after one month of weekly treatment. As a result, a weekly treatment with Vit E and C combination therapy can alleviate PQ toxicity by ameliorating anemia but not affecting the immune system of male albino rats.