Cadmium, a common environmental pollutant, can induce anemia, hypertension and cancer, cause inhibition of enzyme activities, reduce life span. Although Cd ²⁺ itself is unable to generate free radicals directly, the major effect of cadmium-mediated injury is indirect production of various radicals (e.g. superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide). Eukaryotes use several mechanisms to protect themselves against cadmium toxicity. Among them are molecules like glutathione, phytochelatins and metallothioneins that can diminish harmful effects of cadmium. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae general mechanism for cadmium detoxification is the chelation of the metal by glutathione (GSH) and the subsequent compartmentalization of GSH-metal complex. These complexes are transported into the vacuole by Ycf1p which is member of ABC superfamily of transporters (YCF1 gene is highly homologous to mammalian MRP the multidrug resistance-associated protein). Additional protective role on toxic effects of cadmium play also antioxidant like vitamin E, vitamin C, cysteine, melatonin. In this study we use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (∆ycf1 disruptant) as model to evaluate antioxidant properties of caffeine, (natural alkaloid that is found in tea, coffee and common soft drink additive) and linalool ( 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol which is used as a scent in domestic products such as soap, detergent, shampoo, and lotion) under cadmium stress. The present results demonstrate that caffeine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mM) had an additive or synergistic effect on the toxicity of cadmium. Simultaneously we did not observe any toxic effect of caffeine treatment alone. Moreover, our investigation revealed that the growth inhibition by cadmium was abolish by linalool (at the concentration 0.1 and 0.5 mM).

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1. Selective silver staining of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) as useful parameter to describe oxidative stress.