Effect of Toxogonin and P2S on the Toxicity of Carbamates and Organophosphorus Compounds

Abstract

Toxogonin (80 mg/kg intraperitoneally) given 15 min. prior to the administration of organophosphorus insecticides dimethoate, malathion, parathion and azinphos-methyl, organophosphorus warfare agents soman and tabun, or carbamates physostigmine, pyridostigmine and aldicarb, reduced the toxicity in mice of these agents by increasing their LD50 dose 1.5-3 fold. The toxicity of the carbamate insecticide carbaryl, however, was significantly increased by toxogonin. Similar results were obtained for P2S (150 mg/kg intraperitoneally) with respect to the toxicity of dimethoate, soman and pyridostigmine, whereas no effect could be detected on the toxicity of tabun. Only a slight reduction in the toxicity of physostigmine was observed. The acetylcholinesterase activity in erythrocytes, cerebrum and diaphragm of surviving mice 20 hours after organophosphate intoxication was similar both in toxogonin and P2S treated animals and untreated animals.