Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Intervention Against Cadmium Toxicity

This book deals with the potential toxic impact of the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) through the induction of oxidative stress and antioxidant imbalance in rats and its attenuation by GSP. The relative portability of cadmium and its innate toxicity to living forms make it an overwhelming metal of continuous toxicological concern. Humans have significantly modulated the biogeochemical cycle of Cd in the Earth by mobilizing huge amounts of Cd in the biosphere through non-ferrous metal production and smoldering of fossil fuels. As an outcome, our environments are significantly enriched with Cd. The prognosis and health risk of Cd show that it is likely to increase in the future and pose a serious threat to human health because of its deleterious effects. So, the preventive measures ought to be honed to fight against this serious threat. Although many synthetic chelating agents have been used to mitigate Cd toxicity, they have met with serious side effects. Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins (GSP), with its antioxidant properties, provide an excellent antioxidant defence by removing Cd from the site of deleterious oxidant reaction and render protection against Cd-induced toxic manifestations.