A study on oxidative stress biomarkers and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides in pesticide-sprayers

AbstractThis work was conducted on 95 adult males from Al-Salheya Algadeeda-Sharkeya governorate. They were classified according to pesticides residues into control group (30 unexposed healthy adult males living in the same area), insecticides exposed workers group (55 adult males exposed to organophosphate and carbamates) and fungicides exposed workers group (10 adult males exposed to fungicides). The study was designed to investigate and compare the oxidative stress and immunomodulatory effects of pesticides exposure among agricultural workers according the level of pesticide residues in their blood which was measured by HPLC. The oxidative stress status has been evaluated by assessment of (SH-protein), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was measured as a biomarker of toxicity. We used IgG, IgM, as immunological biomarkers to test the humoral immune function as well as TNFα as a biomarker of cellular immune function. Our result revealed statistically significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, IgM and IgG while, MDA and TNF levels showed significant elevations in insecticides-exposed workers versus control. Results of fungicides exposed workers revealed non-significant reduction of the activity of (AchE), antioxidant defense enzymes, IgM, IgG and TNFα levels while there was significant elevation of MDA level and significant reduction of total antioxidant capacity level

Ginger and Propolis Exert Neuroprotective Effects against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

Central nervous system cytotoxicity is linked to neurodegenerative disorders. The objective of the study was to investigate whether monosodium glutamate (MSG) neurotoxicity can be reversed by natural products, such as ginger or propolis, in male rats. Four different groups of Wistar rats were utilized in the study. Group A served as a normal control, whereas group B was orally administered with MSG (100 mg/kg body weight, via oral gavage). Two additional groups, C and D, were given MSG as group B along with oral dose (500 mg/kg body weight) of either ginger or propolis (600 mg/kg body weight) once a day for two months. At the end, the rats were sacrificed, and the brain tissue was excised and levels of neurotransmitters, ß-amyloid, and DNA oxidative marker 8-OHdG were estimated in the brain homogenates. Further, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded brain sections were used for histopathological evaluation. The results showed that MSG increased lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, neurotransmitters, and 8-OHdG as well as registered an accumulation of ß-amyloid peptides compared to normal control rats. Moreover, significant depletions of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase as well as histopathological alterations in the brain tissue of MSG-treated rats were noticed in comparison with the normal control. In contrast, treatment with ginger greatly attenuated the neurotoxic effects of MSG through suppression of 8-OHdG and β-amyloid accumulation as well as alteration of neurotransmitter levels. Further improvements were also noticed based on histological alterations and reduction of neurodegeneration in the brain tissue. A modest inhibition of the neurodegenerative markers was observed by propolis. The study clearly indicates a neuroprotective effect of ginger and propolis against MSG-induced neurodegenerative disorders and these beneficial effects could be attributed to the polyphenolic compounds present in these natural products