Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic environmental pollutant. Ellagic acid (EA), a plant phenol presents in various human foods, has been reported to have both anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic potential. The present study was conducted to investigate whether EA could play any protective role against genotoxicity induced by Cd in Drosophila melanogaster. Five doses of Cd: 0 (control), 1/2, 1, 2 and 4 folds of the allowable concentration in drinking water, were applied to measure some fitness parameters such as viability, developmental time and body size (thorax and wing lengths). Moreover, protein banding patterns and esterase isozymes activities were studied as biochemical effects of Cd pollutant at first, third and sixth generations of treatments. The Cd effects were studied either alone or combined with 0.07 mg/ml of EA for all Cd doses. At all Cd concentrations, viability and body size significantly decreased except for body size only at the lowest concentration (1/2 fold) compared to control experiment. Meanwhile, developmental time did not affect at any Cd concentrations, as compared with control. Biochemical studies revealed that total protein bands decreased, while esterase isozymes activities increased as the Cd concentrations increased. When EA was used in combination with Cd, viability and body size were modulated at the lowest and the recommended doses, while developmental time significantly decreased at the recommended and the highest doses, as compared with control. Moreover, biochemical studies revealed several changes in the number of protein bands and esterase activities than those in Cd alone. These results assume that EA has a good role in minimizing the toxic effects of Cd.
Key words: Drosophila melanogaster, cadmium, ellagic acid, genotoxicity, fitness components, biochemical effects
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