Abstract
Background and aim:
Exposure to pesticide mixtures used in agricultural practice poses a grave risk to non-target animals. This study aimed to determine whether red grape seed extract (RGSE, which is 95% bioflavonoids and equal to 12,000 mg of fresh red grape seed, and 150 mg of vitamin C) alleviated the changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, acetylcholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis induced by orally administered malathion in a rat model of malathion-induced neurotoxicity.
Materials and methods:
Thirty-two adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups and exposed to malathion with or without 4 weeks of RGSE treatment, treated with RGSE alone, or left untreated as controls. The animals were euthanized 24 h after last treatment. Brain samples were collected to measure acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and caspase 3 activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and BDNF levels.
Results:
Malathion significantly reduced acetylcholinesterase and SOD activity and TAC and significantly increased caspase 3 activity. In comparison, acetylcholinesterase and SOC activity, BDNF level, and TAC were improved and caspase 3 activity was decreased in the malathion-RGSE group, indicating that RGSE corrected the alterations detected in these biochemical parameters.
Conclusion:
Oxidative stress and apoptosis in the brains of rats exposed to oral malathion were substantially controlled by RGSE treatment.
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