Chlorpyrifos induced hepatotoxicity in rats and the protective role of quercetin and catechin

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus insecticide which is widely used throughout in the world and it caused toxic effects on nontarget organisms especially mammalian. In the present study, catechin (20 mg/kg day), quercetin (20 mg/kg day), chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day), catechin (20 mg/kg day)+chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day), quercetin (20 mg/kg day)+chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg day) were given to male rats through gavage. Serum total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), trigliceride, total cholesterol levels, hematological changes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and malondialdehyde content in liver tissues and also histopathological changes of liver were investigated in the rats 4 weeks after the administration compared to control group. No significant differences in all investigated parameters were observed between control, catechin and quercetin groups. There were statistically significantly changes in biochemical parameters, some hematological parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde levels in chlorpyrifos treated group compared to control group. In catechin+chlorpyrifos treated group and quercetin+chlorpyrifos treated group we observed the protective effects of catechin and quercetin on examining parameters but not completely. While some histopathological changes like congestion, mononuclear cell infiltration detected in liver tissues in chlorpyrifos treated group, less histopathological changes were observed in catechin+chlorpyrifos and quercetin+chlorpyrifos treated groups at the end of the 4th week. As a result, catechin and quercetin significantly reduce chlorpyrifos induced hepatotoxicity in rats.