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Metal toxicity and natural antidotes: prevention is better than cure

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Abstract

Toxicity due to heavy metals (HM), specifically mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) remains a challenge to scientists till date. This review gives insights into natural antidotes for the management and prevention of HM toxicity. Various databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct were searched for available facts on natural antidotes and their commercial products against HM toxicity till date. Toxicity owing to such metals needs prevention rather than therapy. Natural antidotes, fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidant are the answers to such toxicities. Synthetic chelators impart a major drawback of removing essential metals required for normal body function, along with the toxic one. Natural antioxidants are bestowed with scavenging and chelation properties and can be alternative for synthetic chelating agents. Natural compounds are abundantly available, economic, and have minimal side effects when compared with classical chelators. Prevention is better than cure and thus adding plentiful vegetables and fruits to our diet can combat HM toxicity-related illness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Near CRPF Base Camp, Ahmadpur urf Kamlapur, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226002, India

    Chetan Rajak & Poonam Parashar

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226025, India

    Neelu Singh & Poonam Parashar

Authors
  1. Chetan Rajak
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  2. Neelu Singh
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  3. Poonam Parashar
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Contributions

PP: Overall conceptualized this review and involved in revising the manuscript and approval of the final version after exhaustive coverage on all probable aspects of concerned manuscript.

CR and NS were involved in writing, formatting, and editing of the manuscript as well designing of figures and revision of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Poonam Parashar.

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Rajak, C., Singh, N. & Parashar, P. Metal toxicity and natural antidotes: prevention is better than cure. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 43582–43598 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10783-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10783-3

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