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Protective effects of thymoquinone and diallyl sulphide against malathion-induced toxicity in rats

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Abstract

Malathion is a potent organophosphate insecticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Our experimental objective was to investigate the beneficial effects of diallyl sulphide (DAS) and thymoquinone (TQ) against malathion-induced oxidative stress in rat cerebral, hepatic, and renal tissues. For 30 days, rats received corn oil alone (negative control) or malathion by intragastric gavage (200 mg/kg daily), either alone (positive control) or combined with oral DAS (200 mg/kg daily) or TQ (10 mg/kg daily) (treatment groups). Later, blood samples were collected via direct cardiac puncture and tissue samples were obtained for biochemical analysis. Malathion administration was associated with significant increases (p < 0.05) in the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transferase, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, and 8-OHdG (DNA damage biomarker), as well as significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the serum levels of total proteins, albumin, triglycerides, and AChE. Moreover, it significantly increased the tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and reduced tissue glutathione concentration and activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase). Treatment of malathion-intoxicated rats with DAS or TQ significantly minimized these biochemical and oxidative effects with more frequent reversal to normal ranges of serum biomarkers, tissue oxidative markers, and antioxidant enzymes in the TQ group. In conclusion, treatment with DAS or TQ ameliorated the biochemical and oxidative effects of malathion, probably through reducing the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen radicals, as well as enhancing the antioxidant defense mechanisms.

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Abbreviations

AChE:

Acetylcholine esterase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

CAT:

Catalase

DAS:

Diallyl sulphide

γ-GT:

Gamma-glutamyl transferase

GSH:

Glutathione

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NO:

Nitric oxide

8-OHdG:

8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine

OP:

Organophosphate

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TQ:

Thymoquinone

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program. The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Abha, KSA, for funding this work under grant number (G.R.P.-248-39).

Funding

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program. The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Abha, KSA, for funding this work under grant number (G.R.P.-248-39).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim & Saad Alkahtani

  2. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

    Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk

  4. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania

    Simona G. Bungău

  5. Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    May Bin-Jumah

  6. Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Attalla F. El-kott & Ali A. Shati

  7. Zoology Department, College of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

    Attalla F. El-kott

  8. Chrono-Environnement Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, F-25030, Besançon Cedex, France

    Lotfi Aleya

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  1. Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
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  2. Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk
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  3. Simona G. Bungău
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Correspondence to Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim.

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Abdel-Daim, M.M., Abushouk, A.I., Bungău, S.G. et al. Protective effects of thymoquinone and diallyl sulphide against malathion-induced toxicity in rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 10228–10235 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07580-y

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