The effects of cyfluthrin on some biomarkers in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats

Abstract

Pesticides can cause oxidative stress resulting to deleterious effects in animal metabolisms. Cyfluthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid used worldwide to protect crops and to eliminate pests. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the cyfluthrin on the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the liver and kidney of Wistar Albino Sprague Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus var. albinos) following intraperitoneal treatment of cyfluthrin (1.2, 12, and 120 mg/kg b.w./day) for 21 days. Comparisons were made with two control solutions named as serum physiologic and solvent in which cyfluthrin was dissolved. CAT activity in the liver and kidney of rats did not change after the lowest cyfluthrin treatment, while its activity significantly decreased at the higher doses. In general, cyfluthrin significantly decreased the activity of GPx in the liver and kidney at all doses, while MDA levels in the liver increased at all doses. Cyfluthrin significantly decreased AChE activity in the liver of rats at all doses, while this was true at the highest dose for the kidney. This study showed that the studied biomarkers were effective in determining the toxic effects of cyfluthrin. Thus, they should be used to monitor pesticide-affected areas before untargeted animals, including humans who suffer from the use of pesticides.