Oxidative stress inhibition and oxidant activity by fibrous clays

Fibrous clays (sepiolite, palygorskite) are produced at 1.2 m tonnes per year and have a wide range of industrial applications needing to replace long-fibre length asbestos. However, information on the beneficial effects of fibrous clays on health remains scarce. This paper reports on the effect of sepiolite (Vallecas, Spain) and palygorskite (Torrejon El Rubio, Spain) on cell damage via oxidative stress (determined as the progress of lipid peroxidation, LP). The extent of LP was assessed using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances assay. The oxidant activity by fibrous clays was quantified using Electron-Paramagnetic Resonance. Sepiolite and palygorskite inhibited LP, whereby corresponding IC50 values were 6557 +/- 1024 and 4250 +/- 289 mu g mL(-1). As evidenced by dose-response experiments LP inhibition by palygorskite was surface-controlled. Fibrous clay surfaces did not stabilize HO center dot species, except for suspensions containing 5000 mu g mL(-1). A strong oxidant (or weak anti-oxidant) activity favours the inhibition of LP by fibrous clays. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.