The present study was designed to determine the modulating effect of green tea and vitamin C against
adverse effects of malathion. Animals were divided into four groups 5 rats /group). Group one was
used as a control. Group two given malathion (50 mg/kg/day; 1/50 of the LD50 for four weeks). Group
three and Group four were given malathion (50 mg/kg/day; 1/50 of the LD50 for four weeks) plus
vitamin C (200 mg/kg/day) and plus green tea (36 mg/kg/day) respectively. At the end of the fourth
week, the malathion-treated group had significantly lower Red Blood Cell count (RBCs), Hemoglobin
concentration (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV%) and leucocytes (WBCs) than the control group.
Compared to the control group, the malathion-treated group had significantly higher serum Alkaline
Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate
Dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, creatinine and uric acid levels than the control group. The malathion
treated rats also had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels than the
control group, but the malathion plus vitamin C and malathion plus green tea groups did not differ
from the control group in terms of these parameters. Moreover, concomitant vitamin C and green tea
treatment significantly normalized, at least partially, all of the other hematological and biochemical
parameters that were altered by malathion. Liver tissue homogenate in malathion treated group had
lower Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-PX) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels
accompanied with higher level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) than the control group. Histopathological
studies revealed that the malathion-treated, malathion plus vitamin C and malathion plus green tea
treated groups exhibited histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues, although some
pathological features were only observed in the malathion-treated group. Thus, vitamin C and green tea
can reduce malathion hepatotoxicity and nephrptoxicity. |
