Mancozeb-induced hepatotoxicity: protective role of curcumin in rat animal model.

Abstract

Mancozeb-a widely used fungicide in the agricultural sector-is believed to cause toxicity by increasing oxidative stress. This work investigated the efficacy of curcumin in protecting mancozeb-induced hepatotoxicity. Mature Wistar rats were assigned into 4 equal groups: control, mancozeb (30mg/kg/day, ip), curcumin (100mg/kg/day, po), and mancozeb+curcumin. The experiment lasted for 10days. Our results reported that mancozeb elevated aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase enzyme activities, and total bilirubin level in plasma; and decreased total protein and albumin levels, compared with the control group (P<0.05-0.001). Hepatic tissue levels of malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products were significantly increased; whereas activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, as well as levels of reduced glutathione, vitamin C, and total protein were reduced (P<0.05-0.001). Histopathological examination showed marked histological changes. Co-treatment with curcumin improved the antioxidant activity; reversed oxidative stress and biochemical changes; and restored most of the liver histo-morphological alterations; thus, attenuating the hepatic toxicities induced by mancozeb. These results indicated that curcumin could protect against detrimental hepatic effects induced by mancozeb.