Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Fabad Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, cilt.48, sa.1, ss.139-150, 2023 (Scopus)
Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide that is used globally on a wide scale in agriculture. It was associated with numerous negative health effects in many studies. The brain is one of the target organs for dimethoate exposure. The present study aimed to evaluate the subchronic (60 days) toxicity of dimethoate (7 mg/kg body weight) by investigating its oxidative stress, DNA damage, apoptosis-inducing effects, and histopathological changes in brain tissue of rats. We also aimed to analyze the protective effects of Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (cherry laurel) fruit extract. To evaluate oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes activities, were calculated. Experimental results demonstrated that dimethoate treatment increased MDA and decreased Cu-Zn SOD, GPx, and CAT enzyme activities, suggesting its potency as an oxidative stress inducer in rat brain tissues. Furthermore, comet and TUNEL assay results showed that dimethoate stimulated DNA damage and apoptosis. Administration of cherry laurel extracts protected against dimethoate-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis. The findings of the current study are important in terms of demonstrating the beneficial effects of L. officinalis extract against dimethoate toxicity in the brain, considering the sensitivity of this organ to oxidative stress and extensive usage of dimethoate.