Serum biochemical analysis of the subacute toxicity of Dimethoate and the ameliorative potential of Datura metel linn in Wistar rats

Abstract

There is an increasing concern regarding the widespread use of pesticides such as Dimethoate and their potential impacts on animal and public health. Dimethoate causes developmental toxicity such as decreased number of implantations and live fetuses, incidences of resorptions and decreased foetal body weights. The present study aimed at generating information on the subacute toxicity of dimethoate which has flooded the Nigerian markets, and ameliorative potential of Datura metel ethanol leaf extract (DMELE). Twenty-five (25) Wistar rats weighing 185 - 223 g were divided into 5 groups at random, with 5 rats in each group. Group I (control) was administred soya bean oil (SBO) at 2 mg/kg whereas, groups II, III, IV and V were administred 500 mg/kg of DMELE, 30 mg/kg of dimethoate (DM), DM+DMELE, and DM + atropine (AT), respectively, for four weeks. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the DMELE and DM were found to be 3950 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively. Generally, DM induced significant ((P≤0.05) changes in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin (ALB), mostly at the 3rd and 4th week. Non-significant changes observed in the mixture (DM + DMELE) suggest an ameliorative effect of DMELE on subacute toxicity of DM. Therefore, DMELE appeared to be a potential remedy against biochemical changes induced by DM, especially in animals that are exposed daily to low-doses of the chemical agent