Fipronil Toxicity Induced Hemato-Biochemical Alterations in Male Wistar Albino Rats and its Alleviation with Pomegranate Peel Extract (Punica granatum)

The present study was carried out to investigate the ameliorative effect of pomegranate peel extract (Punica granatum) against haemato-biochemical alterations induced by fipronil in male Wistar albino rats. A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups with six rats in each group. Fipronil was gavaged orally at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg body weight to group II rats for a period of 6 weeks using distilled water as vehicle. Punica granatum peel extract at a dose rate of 200 mg/kg body weight along with fipronil was administered to group IV rats to study the ameliorative effect. Group I and group III served as vehicle control and Punica granatum control respectively. The results of hematological parameters showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in total erythrocyte count (TEC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Total Leukocyte Count (TLC) and percent lymphocyte count in fipronil treated rats. Compared to control group, serum biochemical markers like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine were significantly (P<0.05) increased and serum total protein (TP), serum albumin and globulin levels were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in fipronil treated rats. Meanwhile, significant improvement in the hematological and biochemical parameters were observed in Punica granatum ameliorated rats (Group IV) which proved that Punica granatum has a protective effect against fipronil induced haemato-biochemical alterations in rats.