Amelioration of thiamethoxam-induced oxidative stress in blood by quercetin co-treatment in male wistar rats

The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of Thiamethoxam (TMX) on antioxidant defence system and ameliorative potential of quercetin (Qu) co-treatment in male Wistar rats. In the study, TMX at one lower (@ 840 mg/kg: 20% of MTD) and higher (@ 1260 mg/kg: 30% of MTD) doseswere administered orally to the rats alone or in conjugation with Qu (100 mg/kg) for a period of 28 days. Six rats from each group were killed after 14 and 28 days exposure, and 14 days after termination of exposure to collect the blood for the estimation of oxidative stress markers and antioxidant markers.TMX alone at both the doses significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and protein carbonyl content. However, there was marked decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Quercetin co-treatment in TMX (20% and 30% MTD)-treated animals prevented the decrease GSH levels and activities of SOD and catalase. Its co-treatment also prevented the increase in MDA levels and protein carbonyl content. So, it might be concluded from the results that quercetin ameliorated the TMX-induced oxidative stress in the blood.