Abstract:
Potassium cyanide (KCN) is one of the most lethal and feared poison; which devastates
cellular respiration resulting in death due to hypoxia. Several antidotes exist, but most
face major limitations of safety and efficacy. Moreover, there is a need for new strategies
to minimize post-exposure pathological sequel, which includes harmful oxidant and in-
flammatory changes. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant, which has shown
efficacy against chemical-induced toxicity. In the present study, the potential protective ef-
fect of CoQ10 against KCN-induced toxicosis was evaluated. Female Swiss white mice (3–4
weeks old) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group was used as the con-
trol, the second group was supplemented with 200 mg/kg of CoQ10 for one month before
administration with 8 mg/kg of KCN. For this group, co-administration of CoQ10 and KCN
was continued to the end of the experiment. The third group was administered 8 mg/kg
of KCN. The experiment was terminated after 42 days post-treatment to enable investiga-
tions into the effect of KCN and CoQ10 on various physiological, biochemical, and cellular
processes. The results of this study showed that KCN severely impaired the health of mice,
more so, the neurological integrity. KCN-driven depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) was
noted in the liver and brain. This constitutes a characteristic impairment of the antioxidant
capacity due to the induction of severe oxidative stress. CoQ10 significantly reinforced the
neurological integrity and restored cellular glutathione (reduced form) in both the liver
and brain, a clear indication of reduced oxidative stress. Remarkably, KCN-induced ane-
mia, leukocytosis, and suppression of platelets were reversed by CoQ10 supplementation.
Moreover, histopathological analysis revealed that CoQ10 supplementation blocked KCN-
driven liver, kidney, and brain inflammation, and characteristic hypoxia-induced lesions.
These findings open possibilities for further scrutiny and development of adjunct therapy
utilizing CoQ10 to treat KCN poisoning.
