Effect of nigella sativa oil on the imidacloprid induced toxicity in male albino mice

Abstract EN

Imidacloprid (IMC) is a systemic insecticide being the most frequently detected neonicotinoid in fruits and vegetables.

So, this study was carried out to evaluate the biochemical and the histological alterations associated with IMC toxicity in male albino mice (Muss musculus).

Also, the role of Nigella Sativa oil (NS oil), (4 ml/kg bw) on the adverse effect of IMC was investigated.

The animals were orally administered with 1/50 LD50 IMC (2.6 mg/kg bw) for 28 days (5 doses/week).

Hepatic and pancreatic toxicity was monitored by quantitative measurements of the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), α- amylase activities, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Creatinine and urea levels were used as the biomarkers of kidney damages.

The results showed that imidacloprid administration caused a significant increase in the body and the organs weights.

Also, the ALT Activity, glucose, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol levels were increased.

Whereas the AST and α- amylase activity showed significant reduction when compared with the control group.

The effect of IMC on the previous parameters was confirmed by the histological changes of liver and kidney.

In addition, NS oil supplementation showed a significant reduction of IMC adverse effect.

This result indicated that imidacloprid has the ability to damage liver and kidney functions and cause histological lesions in mice at the tested sublethal dose.

In addition, NS oil supplementation attenuated the IMC adverse effect which confirms its protective influence.