Protective effects of quercetin and vitamin C against nicotine-induced toxicity in the blood of Wistar rats

Abstract Nicotine is a potential inducer of oxidative stress, through which it can damage numerous biological molecules. The aim of our study was to investigate the prooxidative effects of nicotine and protective (additive or synergistic) effects of quercetin and vitamin C in the blood of experimental animals, to determine whether the combination of these antioxidants might be beneficial for clinical purposes. Wistar albino rats were receiving intraperitoneal nicotine injection (0.75 mg kg-1 per day) or saline (control group) or nicotine plus quercetin (40 mg kg-1 per day) and vitamin C (100 mg kg-1 per day) for three consecutive days. On day 4, we determined their blood lipid profile, liver enzymes, oxidative stress parameters, and antioxidative system parameters. Compared to untreated control, nicotine significantly increased total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase) and oxidative stress parameters (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxide) and decreased HDL-cholesterol, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase/catalase activity. Quercetin + vitamin C reversed these values significantly compared to the nicotine alone group. Our results confirm that nicotine has significant prooxidative effects that may disrupt the redox balance and show that the quercetin + vitamin C combination supports antioxidant defence mechanisms with strong haematoprotective activity against nicotine-induced toxicity. In practical terms, this means that a diet rich in vitamin C and quercetin could prevent nicotine-induced toxicity and could also be useful in the supportive care of people exposed to nicotine.