Subacute toxicity of profenofos and its amelioration with curcumin in swiss albino mice

The present study was designed to assess subacute toxicity of profenofos and its amelioration with curcumin in Swiss albino mice. In this study, various parameters i.e. body weight, relative body weight gain, organ weight, relative organ weight gain, haematology and histopathology of various organs like liver, kidney and bone marrow, were assessed. This study was carried out in six groups, each comprised six mice. Group I, II, III, IV, V, VI were administered orally 2% gum acacia, 4.5 mg/kg b.wt. of profenofos, 9 mg/kg b.wt. of profenofos, 200 mg/kg b.wt. of curcumin, 4.5 mg/kg of profenofos + 200 mg/kg of curcumin and 9 mg/kg of profenofos + 200 mg/kg of curcumin, respectively daily for 28 days. No significant change in body weight, relative body weight gain, organ weight and relative organ weight was observed in this subacute toxicity study. In histopathological findings, profenofos produced degenerative changes in liver, kidney and bone marrow in a dose dependent manner. Curcumin showed ameliorative effect markedly by causing restoration of degenerative changes produced by profenofos. It was assessed that profenofos caused a dose dependent significant decrease in Hb and TEC in group III as compared to group I and curcumin has ameliorative effect in restoring these haematological parameters. On the basis of above results, it was concluded that profenofos produced mild dose-dependent toxic effects in Swiss albino mice at a dose of 9 mg/kg b.wt. administered daily orally for 28 days and curcumin (200 mg/kg b.wt., p.o.) has moderate ameliorative effect in profenofos-induced toxicity.