<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Cyanogens are widely used in industries and their toxicity is mainly due to cyanogenesis. The antidotes for cyanide are usually instituted for the management of cyanogen poisoning. The present study reports the protective efficacy of 14 carbonyl compounds and their metabolites, and nutrients (1.0 g/kg; oral; +5 min) against acute oral toxicity of acetonitrile (ATCN), acrylonitrile (ACN), malononitrile (MCN), propionitrile (PCN), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), succinonitrile (SCN), and potassium ferricyanide (PFCN) in rats. Maximum protection index was observed for alpha-ketoglutarate (A-KG) against MCN and PCN (5.60), followed by dihydroxyacetone (DHA) against MCN (2.79). Further, MCN (0.75 LD50) caused significant increase in cyanide concentration in brain, liver and kidney and inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity in brain and liver, which favorably responded to A-KG and DHA treatment. Up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by MCN, PCN and SNP, and uncoupling protein by PCN and SNP observed in the brain was abolished by A-KG administration. However, no DNA damage was detected in the brain. MCN and SNP significantly decreased the mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and neuromuscular transmission, which were resolved by A-KG. The study suggests a beneficial effect of A-KG in the treatment of acute cyanogen poisoning.</p></abstract>

Cyanogens are widely used in industries and their toxicity is mainly due to cyanogenesis. The antidotes for cyanide are usually instituted for the management of cyanogen poisoning. The present study reports the protective efficacy of 14 carbonyl compounds and their metabolites, and nutrients (1.0 g/kg; oral; +5 min) against acute oral toxicity of acetonitrile (ATCN), acrylonitrile (ACN), malononitrile (MCN), propionitrile (PCN), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), succinonitrile (SCN), and potassium ferricyanide (PFCN) in rats. Maximum protection index was observed for alpha-ketoglutarate (A-KG) against MCN and PCN (5.60), followed by dihydroxyacetone (DHA) against MCN (2.79). Further, MCN (0.75 LD50) caused significant increase in cyanide concentration in brain, liver and kidney and inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity in brain and liver, which favorably responded to A-KG and DHA treatment. Up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by MCN, PCN and SNP, and uncoupling protein by PCN and SNP observed in the brain was abolished by A-KG administration. However, no DNA damage was detected in the brain. MCN and SNP significantly decreased the mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and neuromuscular transmission, which were resolved by A-KG. The study suggests a beneficial effect of A-KG in the treatment of acute cyanogen poisoning.

Protective efficacy of various carbonyl compounds and their metabolites, and nutrients against acute toxicity of some cyanogens in rats: biochemical and physiological studies

Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development Establishment

Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Cyanogens are widely used in industries and their toxicity is mainly due to cyanogenesis. The antidotes for cyanide are usually instituted for the management...

Protective efficacy of various carbonyl compounds and their metabolites, and nutrients against acute toxicity of some cyanogens in rats: biochemical and physiological studies

Published Online: Feb 14, 2018

Page range: 1 - 10

Received: Oct 07, 2016

Accepted: May 24, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2017-0001

Keywords
cyanogens, cyanide, acute toxicity, protection, biochemistry, physiology

© 2017 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Protective efficacy of various carbonyl compounds and their metabolites, and nutrients against acute toxicity of some cyanogens in rats: biochemical and physiological studies

Published Online: Feb 14, 2018

Page range: 1 - 10

Received: Oct 07, 2016

Accepted: May 24, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2017-0001

Keywordscyanogens, cyanide, acute toxicity, protection, biochemistry, physiology

© 2017 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
cyanogens, cyanide, acute toxicity, protection, biochemistry, physiology