Evaluation of DNA Damage in Vivo by Comet Assay and Chromosomal Aberrations for Pyrethroid Insecticide and the Antimutagenic : Role of Curcumin

Abstract

Background: Esfenvelerate a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, is widely used in the home environment and in agriculture because of its high activity against a broad spectrum of insect pests and its low animal toxicity .Objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of esfenvelerate and the possible protective role of curcumin against this genotoxicity. Material and methods:Forty male albino rats were divided into 8 groups of 5 rats each: G1 served as control and G2 served as positive control received (100mg/kg curcumin ), G3,G4 and G5 were orally administrated with (1/20 LD50, 1/40 LD50 and 1/60 LD50 of esfenvelerate ) respectively and the last three groups(G6,G7and G8) were received the same doses of pesticide plus 100mg /kg curcumin for 28 days daily. Animals were sacrificed and bone marrow samples were collected for chromosomal aberration assay test and liver samples were used for DNA damage detection by comet assay. Results:chromosome aberration assay revealed that all the tested doses induced chromosomal aberrations (CA) such as centromeric gaps, chromatid gaps, chromatid deletion, dicentric chromosome, and ring chromosome. The alkaline comet assay showed significantly increased tail moment, tail length and tailed DNA % in liver cells of animals treated with esfenvelerate alone compared to control group. On the other hand, oral curcumin significantly ameliorated the genotoxicity induced by esfenvelrat. All these results clarified the efficacy of curcumin in amelioration of chromosomal aberrations of structures as well as DNA damage which may result from its antioxidant properties.