Therapeutic efficacy of chlorogenic acid on cadmium-induced oxidative neuropathy in a murine model.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether chlorogenic acid (CA) is able to modulate cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative brain damage. Cd-treated rats displayed numerous pathological effects, including the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, elevated lipid peroxidation, the depletion of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, the reduction of membrane-bound ATPase activity, mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment of the rats with CA significantly attenuated these effects. These results lead to the hypothesis that the mechanisms by which CA attenuates the effects of Cd-induced oxidative brain damage include the maintenance of antioxidant homeostasis, inhibition of the membrane effects and the perpetuation of mitochondrial dysfunction. These data support the potential of CA as a beneficial intervention in the prevention of heavy metal poisoning due to Cd exposure.