FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, cilt.30, sa.7A, ss.9309-9321, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, is highly effective and is widely used in veterinary medicine and agriculture for controlling a wide variety of pests. Quercetin and curcumin are natural compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of quercetin (50 mg/kg of body weight (bw)/day) and curcumin (100 mg/kg bw/day), individually and in combination, against fipronil (3.88 mg/kg bw/day)-induced hepatic damage in rats. The liver function tests and lipid profile parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation and histological changes of the hepatic tissue were evaluated. Serum enzyme activities (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase) and total cholesterol levels significantly increased and serum levels of albumin, total protein and triglyceride significantly decreased in fipronil-treated rats. The malondialdehyde level significantly increased and catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase activities decreased in liver tissue of fipronil-treated rats. Also, fipronil exposure resulted in histopathological alterations in rat liver. The fipronil-induced alterations in liver function and structure were alleviated by quercetin and curcumin treatment. The results revealed that quercetin and curcumin administered individually and in combination at the tested doses could partially protect against fipronil-induced hepatic injury in rats.