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Arsenic cardiotoxicity: An overview
Nafiseh Sadat Alamolhodaei1, Kobra Shirani2, Gholamreza Karimi3
1School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
|November 26, 2015
Summary
Arsenic exposure can harm heart health, leading to cardiac dysfunction through mechanisms like oxidative stress and apoptosis. This review explores arsenic cardiotoxicity and potential protective effects of medicinal plants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Arsenic is a widespread environmental element found in food and water.
- Cardiac dysfunction is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality.
- Arsenic exposure is linked to various heart problems, including ischemia, arrhythmia, and heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathobiology of arsenic-induced cardiotoxicity.
- To discuss the mechanisms underlying arsenic's harmful effects on the heart.
- To explore the potential of medicinal plants in mitigating arsenic's cardiac toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on arsenic exposure and cardiovascular effects.
- Analysis of biochemical and molecular pathways involved in arsenic cardiotoxicity.
- Examination of research on the cardioprotective properties of medicinal plants against arsenic.
Main Results:
- Arsenic exposure can induce cardiotoxicity via oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis, and ion channel dysfunction.
- Key pathways implicated in arsenic-induced apoptosis include mitochondrial disruption, caspase activation, MAPK signaling, and p53.
- Arsenic trioxide (As2O3), while an effective antitumor agent, carries risks of cardiac side effects like QT prolongation.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic poses significant risks to cardiovascular health through multiple toxic pathways.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to prevent or treat arsenic cardiotoxicity.
- Medicinal plants may offer a promising avenue for protecting cardiac function against arsenic-induced damage.
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