Hepatoprotective Effects of Vitamin E Against Malathion-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Liver

Abstract

Background: Malathion is an insecticide of the grouping of organophosphate pesticides (OPs), which shows strong insecticidal effects. In addition, vitamin E reacting to cell membrane site may prevent OP-induced oxidative injury. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the protective function of vitamin E on toxicity of malathion, by measuring the activities of liver and liver mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in rats. Materials and Methods: The mitochondrial viability was determined in liver. Effective doses of malathion (200 mg/kg/day) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherylacetate [AT]; 15 mg/kg/day) were administered alone or in combination for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the liver tissue and liver mitochondria of the animals were harvested and examined. Results: In liver tissue, the activity of LPO and CAT was higher in the malathion group in comparison to controls. AT reduced malathion-induced LPO, SOD, CAT, and GPx in rat liver. Coadministration of AT with malathion improved LPO, SOD, and CAT levels in liver as well as CAT and GPx in liver mitochondria. Malathion-induced mitochondria toxicity was recovered by AT. Conclusions: In conclusion, AT measurement can be beneficial for the safety or recovery of malathion-induced toxic injury in liver tissue and liver mitochondria.