Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access

Abstract

Mitigating Effect of Ginger against Oxidative Stress Induced by Atrazine Herbicides in Mice Liver and Kidney

Nahla S. EL- Shenawy, Bedor El- Ahmary and Rasha A. Al- Eisa

Pesticide chemicals may induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals and alterations in antioxidants or oxygen free radical (OFR) scavenging enzymes. Hence, the effect of sub-chronic atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6- isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) exposure was evaluated on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant power, glutathione and OFR scavenging enzymes in albino mice. Experimental animals were administered atrazine (1/8 LD50) and/or ginger (120 mg/ kg body weight, each alternative day) intraperitoneally for 14 days. There was higher level of malondialdehyde in liver and not in kidney of mice treated with atrazine than control animals. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased in liver and kidney tissue in atrazine-treated animals compared to the control. A highly significant increase in glutathione-S-transferase activity was observed in liver of treated animals. Results indicated that the reduced glutathione (GSH) content of the liver only and not in kidney of atrazine-treated mice was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. Co-administration of ginger along with atrazine restored the hepatic GSH content nearly to control levels, decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and improved all the antioxidant enzymes as well as antioxidant power. In conclusion, results of the study demonstrated that atrazine induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney, in terms of decreased activities of the various antioxidant enzymes, increased of lipid peroxidation and decreased content of reduced glutathione and antioxidant power. However, ginger administration ameliorated the effects of atrazine, suggesting that ginger is a potential antioxidant against atrazine-induced oxidative stress.