Ameliorative effects of selenium against cypermethrin induced toxicity of tissue minerals in vital organs of Sprague Dawley rats

Introduction: Alpha-cypermethrin (Pyrethroid insecticide) is widely used in disease vector control, agriculture, home pest control and protection of foodstuff across the world. Due to its unchecked and widespread use, non-target organisms are also getting affected by its toxic effects.

Objectives: This investigation was aimed to determine the preventive potential of selenium on changes in tissue minerals induced by a short-term (21 days) oral treatment of cypermethrin in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methodology: Female rats (n=20) were equally divided into four groups. Group 1 received corn oil (1 ml), Group 2 was administered 55 mg/kg/bw of cypermethrin, 1 ppm of sodium selenite was administered to Group 3 and Group 4 was given both cypermethrin and sodium selenite. Concentration of tissue minerals (Se, Na, K, Mg, Cu and Zn) were determined in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and blood through atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results: Results showed that cypermethrin administration caused significant changes in trace metals and electrolytes in some of the tissues while most tissues’ concentrations remained unaffected.

Conclusion: The present study showed that selenium can be effective in the protection of cypermethrin induced toxicity. However further studies can be conducted to analyze the effects of different doses of selenium on cypermethrin induced toxicity in tissue minerals.