Alterations in Biochemical Parameters during Subacute Toxicity of Thiamethoxam in Male Wistar Rats

Thiamethoxam (TMX) is first commercially available second generation neonicotinoid and marketed under the trademarks ACTARA® for foliar treatment. The present study was conducted to investigate the propensity of TMX to alter the biochemical parameters in rats following repetitive oral exposure and its possible attenuation by quercetin. In this study, TMX at 840 mg/kg (20% of MTD) and 1260 mg/kg (30% of MTD) doses were administered orally to the rats alone or in conjugation with Quercetin (100 mg/kg) for 14 and 28 days. Six rats from each group were killed after 14 and 28 days exposure, and 14 days after termination of 28 days exposure to collect the blood for analysis. TMX alone at both the doses significantly decreased the levels of total protein and albumin. Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were increased by TMX exposure in dose dependent manner. Quercetin co-treatment in TMX-treated animals moderately protected the TMX-induced alterations in biochemical parameters particularly at lower dose. So, it might be concluded from the results that TMX at both doses possesses the potential of producing toxicity in a dose dependent manner and quercetin at 100 mg/kg showed partial protective action against subacute TMX toxicity.