The Potential Protective Effect of Quercetin on Thiamethoxam Induced Hepatotoxicity in Adult Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Since, human exposure to thiamethoxam (TMX) is highly frequent as it is one of the most widely used pesticides nowadays and due to potential adverse health effects including hepatotoxic effects, TMX has        become an issue of concern to public health.

Aim of the work: was to evaluate the possible protective role of quercetin administration on thiamethoxam induced hepatotoxicity in                  adult male albino rats.

Methods: Thirty adult healthy male albino rats, were included in this study. Rats were divided into five equal groups. Each group consists of six rats as follows: Group I (negative control group): Rats received only regular diet and tap water daily. Group II (positive control group): rats received one mL of normal saline 0.9% NaCl (solvent of thiamethoxam and quercetin). Group III (quercetin treated group):  Each rat received quercetin at 50 mg/kg body weight (BW), dissolved in five ml of saline 0.9%. Group IV (Thiamethoxam treated group): rats received TMX at 78.15 mg/kg BW dissolved in five ml of saline 0.9%. Group IV (Quercetin +TMX treated group): With the same mentioned doses and duration, quercetin was administered one hour before TMX

Results: Administration of thiamethoxam led to a very highly significant increase (p< 0.001) in the mean values of serum levels of GDH, AST and ALT, significant reduction in the mean values of hepatic glutathione peroxidase and catalase and a very highly significant increase in the mean values of serum levels of MDA with histopathological changes of hepatic architecture along with increase caspase-3 immunoreaction and increase DNA damage changes in comet assay. Quercetin administration along with TMX ameliorate all studied parameters.

Conclusion: Quercetin plays an important role in protection against thiamethoxam liver toxicity which is indicated by improving the biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and comet assay results in groups treated with quercetin and thiamethoxam.