Investigation of the Effects of Maleic Acid and Vanillic Acid on Copper Toxicity in the Drosophila melanogaster Model

Copper is a metal that is necessary for the maintenance of biological functions of all living organisms. Although copper is essential for the maintenance of cellular metabolism at low concentrations, at high concentrations it can cause toxic effects as it causes ROS formation. In this study, toxicity was induced by CuSO4 (1 mM) in larval and adult D. melanogaster. The flies were then treated with maleic acid (MA) (2 mg) and vanillic acid (VA) (2 mg). The results showed that Cu toxicity caused a decrease in SOD, CAT, GPX, AChE and GSH levels. There was a significant increase in MDA levels. However, it was found that treatment with MA and VA increased the amounts of SOD, CAT, GPX, AChE and GSH and decreased the amount of MDA. These results showed that MA and VA had ameliorative effects on ROS and oxidative stress caused by CuSO4. In conclusion, the effects of natural compounds on different biological parameters against metal-induced toxicity should be evaluated in future studies.