The protective role of cinnamaldehyde and avicularin on the toxic effect of atrazine

Atrazine (ATR), an herbicide, is used against weeds in the cultivation of agricultural products and causes toxic effects on living things. Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and Avicularin (AVI) are antioxidant substances with protective effects. In this thesis study, ATR 10μM, CIN 40μM and AVI 40μM doses were applied to erythrocytes and leukocytes, which are blood cells, in vitro. In order to determine the effects of the applied substances, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) level which is the end product of lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) level and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity were determined by spectrophotometric method in comparison with the control group. In addition to these parameters, DNA fragmentation, osmotic fragility and cell viability tests were also done. When oxidative stress parameters were evaluated, it was determined that antioxidant enzyme activities decreased and MDA level increased in the ATR group. In addition, it was observed that AChE activity, GSH level and percentage of cell viability were decreased and DNA fragmentation and osmotic fragility values were increased statistically. The applied CIN, AVI and CIN+AVI showed a protective effect against ATR in terms of the examined parameters. As a result, it has been determined that ATR has a toxic effect on human blood cells, and CIN and AVI have protective effects, although not completely.