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Chronic arsenic poisoning due to drinking arsenic contaminated ground water is an emerging public health problem in Bangladesh. Several works have been done to find a good remedy with the use of spirulina, retinoids, vitamin A, C and E and α-lipoic acid. The present study was designed to find the effects of hexane extract of spinach in the removal of arsenic from arsenic treated rat. Rats were fed arsenic trioxide through Ryle’s tube for one month then they were fed on hexane extract (1-4%) of spinach for another one month. Hexane extract of spinach decreased accumulated arsenic from rat liver, spleen, kidney, intestine, lungs and skin significantly. Besides, it reduced the oxidative stress caused by arsenic which was evident by decreased levels of malondialdehye (MDA) in the above tissues. Hexane extract decreases both arsenic level and MDA level in rat tissues in dose dependent manner.

Introduction

Chronic arsenic toxicity is a global health issue at present. It is also a major health problem of Bangladesh and surrounding regions. There is no specific curative treatment. Immediate stoppage of drinking arsenic contaminated water and consumption of arsenic free drinking water are the mainstay of therapy. Improvement of nutritional status and use of chelating agents are recommended. But the role of chelating agents in chronic arsenic poisoning is not beyond doubt. A few small scale clinical trials in West Bengal of arsenic chelators such as BAL, D-penicillamine, DMSA and DMPS have not shown promising results (Spallholz et al., 2006). Over production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress has been postulated as one of the major mechanism behind arsenic induced toxicities in different organs. In view of antioxidant properties of spinach the present study was carried out to document the effectiveness of spinach extract against chronic arsenic toxicity.

Materials and Methods

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃), silver diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDC), Hexamethylentetramin, zinc fillings and other reagents for arsenic estimation were purchased from E.Merck (Germany). Thiobarbituric acid and bovine serum albumin was purchased from Sigma Aldrich Cheme (Gmbh, Germany). Spinach was purchased from the local market. All the chemicals and reagents used were of highest analytical grade available.

Seventy two kilograms of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was purchased from the local market. Then they were cleaned, washed and chopped excluding the roots. Then they were dried in the open air at room temperature for 2-3 days without exposure to direct sunlight. After drying the crisp leaves were crushed by hand.

The dried leaves of the spinach after crushing was soaked in n-hexane in clean amber colored glass containers for 24 hours. After 24 hours they were filtered. The filtrate thus obtained was condensed by rotatory vacuum evaporator at 40°C temperature and 65-75 rpm. The yellowish green oily extract was preserved in amber colored bottle in the deep freezer.

1%, 2%, 3% and 4% solutions of n-hexane extract of spinach in olive oil were prepared by dissolving 1, 2, 3 and 4 mL of spinach extract concentrate in 99, 98, 97 and 96 ml of olive oil and preserved in amber color bottles and kept in the refrigerator.

Rats were randomly divided into five groups (I-V) (Table-2). All the rats received 0.7 mL of arsenic solution (from 2 mg/mL stock solution) through Ryle's tube on every alternate day for 30 days. Then on next 30 days All the rats of Group I was fed normal diet and drinking water ad libitum and was considered as control group. Group II rats received 0.5 mL of 1% n-hexane extract of spinach in olive oil by Ryle’s tube besides normal diet and water ad libitum every day. In addition to normal diet and drinking water ad libitum all the rats of Group III received 0.5 ml of 2% n-hexane extract of spinach in olive oil by Ryle’s tube every day. In addition to normal diet and drinking water ad libitum all the rats of Group IV received 0.5 ml of 3% n-hexane extract of spinach in olive oil by Ryle’s tube every day. In addition to normal diet and drinking water ad libitum all the rats of Group V received 0.5 mL of 4% n-hexane extract of spinach in olive oil by Ryle’s tube every day.

Group	n	Feeding schedule
		1st month	2nd month
Group I	11	Arsenic (0.7 mL) + food and water	Food and water only
Group II	11	Arsenic (0.7 mL) + food and water	1%Spinach extract + food and water
Group III	11	Arsenic (0.7 mL) + food and water	2%Spinach extract + food and water
Group IV	11	Arsenic (0.7 mL) + food and water	3%Spinach extract + food and water
Group V	11	Arsenic (0.7 mL) + food and water	4%Spinach extract + food and water

All the rats were sacrificed at the end of 60 days. Sacrifice procedure was performed under light chloroform anesthesia. Rats were kept fasting overnight the day before sacrifice. Under light chloroform anesthesia the abdomen of each rat was opened by midline incision and extended to open the thorax. Then the liver, spleen, kidneys, intestine, lungs and skin were isolated. The organs were dissected out and packed in separate polyethylene packets accurately labeled and preserved in a deep freezer until the period of analysis.

The amount of total arsenic in tissues was measured by quantitative colorimetric method for total arsenic estimation using SDDC method. Inorganic arsenic was reduced to arsine (AsH₃) by zinc in strong acid solution in an arsine generator. The arsine was then passed through a scrubber containing cotton wool moistened with lead acetate and into an absorber tube containing SDDC dissolved in chloroform. The arsine reacted with the silver salt, forming a soluble red color complex whose absorbance was read in a spectrophotometer. The maximum absorbance of the resulting color complex is at 525 nm. From the particular organ specific amount of tissue was carefully weighed. Then arsenic in tissue was oxidized by “acid digestion” and released by “arsine generator”.

At first, the weighed tissue was taken in a 100 mL conical flask. Then 2 mL concentrated sulfuric acid, 3 mL concentrated nitric acid and 2 mL concentrated perchloric acid was added to it. To another 100 mL flask 25 mL of deionized distilled water was taken and above mentioned volume of sulfuric acid, nitric acid and perchloric acid was added. Then it was carried through entire procedure to use as blank, as acid contain trace amount of arsenic. The flasks were allowed to stand for 10 min then gentle heat was applied on the digestion plant. As the reaction subsided the heat was increased and kept on the flame till the contents of the flask became clear or colorless. Then the flame was turned off and the flasks were allowed to cool. When the digestion was completed all the carbonaceous material should have been destroyed, resulting in a solution of heavy metals in acid.

After cooling the flasks, the digest contents were transferred to the clean and dry 250 mL conical flasks. Then the contents were diluted with deionized distilled water up to the volume of 35 mL. To another flask 75 µL of prepared arsenic solution (containing 200 µg/mL) was taken which contains 15 µg of arsenic. It was diluted up to the volume of 35 mL by adding deionized distilled water. This was considered as standard for the study. To each flask 3 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 50 µL potassium iodide was added. Then after some time 100-200 µL stannous chloride was added to each flask drop by drop till the contents of the flask became clear.Plugs of cotton wool wetted with a few drops of 10% lead acetate were inserted and placed in the scrubber part of the arsine generator assembly. 3 mL of SDDC was taken in each absorber part of arsine generator and 3 g zinc pellets were added to each flask. Then, immediately absorber part was joined tightly to generator part. Within minutes, reaction begun and bubbling was observed as arsine gas was generated. The reaction was allowed to continue for 30 min. For blank, the same procedure was carried on. After 30 min the color reagent or SDDC was transferred in a clean test tube and kept for colorimetric measurement of arsenic.Then, the color reagent was transferred to a glass cuvette and the absorbance was measured at 525 nm in spectrophotometer against blank.

Lipid peroxidation was estimated by using the thiobarbituric acid method to determine the level of malondialdehye (MDA) (Hagen et al., 1999). One milliliter of tissue homogenate was reacted with 4·5 mL of 5·5% TCA. The mixture was vortexed and centrifuged at 4000 × g for 10 min. To the supernatant 1 mL of 0·67% thiobarbituric acid was added. The mixture was kept in a boiling water bath (100°C) for 10 min, forming a pink color solution. It was then cooled immediately and then absorbance was measured at 532 nm by spectrophotometer. The results were expressed as nmol MDA/ mg protein.

Protein concentration of tissues was estimated by Lowry et al. (1951). Bovine serum albumin (8 g/dL) was used as standard.

Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 10.0 USA was used for data analysis and preparation of graphs. The values were expressed as mean ± S.E. for results obtained with all six sets of tissues in all the five groups and significance of difference between the values was determined by unpaired students t test. Statistical significance was determined by p value <0.05.

Results

The concentration of arsenic in liver, spleen, kidneys, intestine, lungs and skin were estimated both in the presence or absence of arsenic and hexane extract of spinach.

The amount of arsenic (mean ± S.E.) in the liver of normal healthy rats was 2.04 (± 0.48) µg/g tissue. Rats treated with arsenic for one month increased the amount of arsenic to 4.62 (± 0.44) µg/g tissues (Table II). There was 126.47% rise in arsenic level, which was statistically significant (p<0.01). Treatment of rat with 1% hexane

Groups	Concentration of arsenic in µg/g tissue (mean ± S.E.)	% Decreased
Group I (arsenic control)	4.62 ± 0.44	100
Group II (1% spinach extract)	1.08 ± 0.26	↓ 76.62*
Group III (2% spinach extract)	1.45 ± 0.28	↓ 68.61*
Group IV (3% spinach extract)	1.50 ± 0.28	↓ 67.53*
Group V (4% spinach extract)	1.39 ± 0.23	↓ 69.91*
*p<0.001

extract of spinach for one month decreased the arsenic level to 1.08 (± 0.26) µg/g tissues, which was 76.62% less than that of arsenic treated group. This change was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 2% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the arsenic level to 1.45 (± 0.28) µg/g tissues, which was 68.61% less than that of arsenic alone group. This change was also statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 3% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the arsenic level to 1.50 (± 0.28) µg/g tissues, which was 67.53% less than that of arsenic treated group. This change was also statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 4% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the arsenic level to 1.39 (± 0.23) µg/g tissues, which was 69.91% less than that of arsenic treated group. This change was also statistically highly significant (p<0.001).

The mean amounts of arsenic in the spleen, kidneys, intestine, lungs and skin of normal healthy rats were 2.13, 2.72, 2.04, 2.21 and 1.90 µg/g tissues. That is, spleen showed highest amount of arsenic whereas skin had lowest amount of arsenic. Treatment with arsenic for one month increased the tissue levels (spleen- 4.56; kidneys-6.02; intestine-4.79; lungs-8.17 and skin 4.49 µg/g tissues). Treatment with 1-4% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the arsenic level significantly (Table II).

Groups	%Removal of arsenic from tissues
	Spleen	Kidneys	Intestine	Lungs	Skin
Arsenic control	100	100	100	100	100
1% Spinach extract	↓ 42.54	↓ 44.19	↓ 57.83	↓ 56.06	↓ 63.70
2% Spinach extract	↓ 63.37	↓ 45.02	↓ 48.02	↓ 47.98	↓ 48.55
3% Spinach extract	↓ 47.59	↓ 54.65	↓ 58.87	↓ 45.78	↓ 64.14
4% Spinach extract	↓ 44.96	↓ 35.71	↓ 53.86	↓ 58.14	↓ 51.89

The concentration of MDA in liver, spleen, kidneys, intestine, lungs and skin were estimated both in the presence or absence of arsenic and hexane extract of spinach. The mean (± s.e.) MDA concentration in the liver of normal healthy rats was 24.33 (± 2.42) nmol/l/mg protein. In rats treated with arsenic for one month increased the level of MDA to 40.72 (± 1.99) nmol/l/mg protein (Table III). There was 67.37% rise in MDA level; which was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 1% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the MDA level to 19.30 (± 1.35) nmol/L/mg protein, which was 52.60% less than that of arsenic control. This change was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 2% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the MDA level to 23.14 (± 1.42) nmol/L/mg protein, which was 43.17% less. This change was also statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 3% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the MDA level to 26.18 (± 2.24) nmol/L/mg protein, which was 35.71% less than that of arsenic control. This change was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Treatment with 4% hexane extract of spinach for one month decreased the MDA level to 27.29 (± 1.35) nmol/L/mg protein, which was 32.98% less. This change was also statistically highly significant (p<0.001).

More or less similar changes were observed in spleen, kidneys, intestines, lungs and skin.

Group	Malondialdehyde level
	Liver	Spleen	Kidneys	Intestine	Lungs	Skin
Arsenic control	40.72 ± 1.99	152.39 ± 2.68	279.13 ± 9.30	363.30 ± 27.95	54.28 ± 7.33	18.31 ± 1.33
1% Spinach extract	19.30 ± 1.35	93.43 ± 3.17	139.57 ± 3.46	58.64 ± 6.44	11.68 ± 1.24	6.89 ± 0.70
2% Spinach extract	23.14 ± 1.42	95.72 ± 2.89	182.50 ± 9.00	186.68 ± 14.81	13.03 ± 1.41	9.31 ± 0.58
3% Spinach extract	26.18 ± 2.24	97.84 ± 1.85	172.16 ± 9.48	199.04 ± 15.29	16.95 ± 1.45	9.58 ± 0.98
4% Spinach extract	27.29 ± 1.35	106.08 ± 1.91	170.50 ± 6.87	212.34 ± 17.76	18.49 ± 1.24	11.48 ± 0.88

Discussion

Spinach is a rich source of antioxidants and micronutrients, which could be a good solution for management of arsenicosis. After inducing arsenicosis experimentally in rats by feeding them with arsenic trioxide solution through Ryle’s tube every alternate day for one month, different concentrations (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) of n-hexane extract of spinach was administered to different groups of rat by the same route every day for one month. At the end of second month the total arsenic level in six vital organs namely liver, spleen, kidney, intestine, lungs and skin of all the rats were measured by SDDC method by spectrophotometer. The levels were compared with that of arsenic control group. About half the dose of administered arsenic accumulates in the blood of rats, mainly in RBCs. The phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system of spleen, lungs, liver and other organs serves to engulf and remove these RBCs which are damaged physically and / or immunologically. Therefore, long term exposure of rats to arsenic cause accumulation of it in RBCs and ultimately in reticuloendothelial system rich in organs like spleen, lungs, liver etc. The data obtained in this study also favors this observation as there was highest accumulation of arsenic in the spleen followed by lung, liver, kidney, skin and lowest accumulation was in intestine. This finding is almost similar to others (Marafante, 1982). Accumulation of arsenic in lungs was also high which is particularly important because one of the principal causes of mortality in arsenicosis is due to lung cancer.

The concentration of arsenic in liver was also high. Disturbances of liver function test were reported in both man and animal after chronic exposure of inorganic arsenic (Guha Mazumder, 2001; Saha et al., 1999).

Accumulation of arsenic in kidney was high also though incidents of renal pathology in chronic arsenic poisoning are less common. The raised level may be due to the process of excretion of arsenic and its metabolites. It was observed that there is a relationship between arsenic exposure in drinking water and bladder cancer in Taiwan, Argentina, Chile, Japan and England.

Besides this, lipid peroxidation in the tissues of all the six corresponding organs was also estimated by MDA method in all the five groups of rat under study.

From previous works it is well documented that micronutrients and antioxidants has significant role in the treatment of chronic arsenic poisoning. Selenium, zinc, iron, spirulina, lipoic acid, ascorbic acid and a tocopherol all has got ameliorating role against chronic arsenic poisoning. There is metabolic antagonism between arsenic and selenium as arsenite stimulate the excretion of selenium to the bile, so does selenite stimulate the excretion of arsenic (Levander, 1977). In another study, selenite was observed to decrease the teratogenic effects of arsenate in pregnant hamsters (WHO, 1981). It was already evident from previous studies conducted in the department of Pharmacology, BSMMU that administering arsenic to rats for different periods induce significant levels of arsenicosis in them (Nasir, 2002; Uddin, 2002). In view of this in our study main emphasis was given on the role of spinach extract to remove arsenic from the tissues under study. As well it was also sought to establish a relationship between tissue arsenic level and lipid peroxidation. Arsenic treatment in this experiment resulted a significant increase in lipid peroxidation in all the six tissues of control group. Treatment with different doses of spinach extract in different groups showed spectrum of result. Arsenic content caused extensive oxidation of intramitochondrial NADPH by inhibiting α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (Schiller et al., 1977). NADPH deficiency thus would suppress the reduction of GSSG and ultimately decrease the GSH level. The rise in MDA level was due to the increased release of iron that is believed to be involved in Fenton type of reaction. Arsenic is shown to stimulate the release of iron from ferritin (Ahmad et al., 2000) and through the activation of heme oxygenase (Pi et al., 2002) the rate limiting enzyme in heme degradation. The free iron is considered as a potent enhancer of ROS formation, as exemplified by the reduction of H₂O₂with the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radical (Farber, 1994). Depletion of GSH level might result in an alteration in membrane integrity, thereby increasing susceptibility of the membrane to damage following arsenic exposure, leads to production of free radicals and ultimately production of lipid hydroperoxides (Masella et al., 2005).

In the present study, the decreased levels of MDA observed in the spinach extract treated group might be due to the antioxidant contents of the spinach extract, which reacted with ROS and / or may lead to regeneration of antioxidant pool. These findings are consistent with the results of previous studies (Saha, 2003; Tabassum, 2006). It has been observed in previous studies that alpha-lipoic acid, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol showed synergestic activity in decreasing tissue arsenic load when administered simultaneously than individually. Alpha-lipoic acid seems to regenerate ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol from their radical forms. Ascorbate is also having role in decreasing oxidative stress (Xu and Wells, 1996). Ascorbate may decrease the concentration of arsenic in the tissues either by removing the toxic metal from target organ and / or by scavengering ROS directly via –SH groups. Alpha-tocopherol does the similar work by inhibiting continuous production of ROS. All the above mechanisms may play a role in concert in decreasing arsenic from different tissues by spinach extract. As spinach is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. All of which possess antioxidant properties.

Conclusion

A combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients could be a novel therapeutic measure for the treatment of arsenicosis. However, further studies with spinach extract need to be carried out both in vivo and in vitro to ascertain its therapeutic benefit in chronic arsenic poisoning.

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| Research | Article |

Effect of hexane extract of spinach in the removal of arsenic from rat