Abstract
Protection from effects of the organophosphate insecticide, malathion on the liver and kidney of male Wistar albino rats by alpha-tocopherol and selenium was investigated. Significantly greater (P<0.01) mean concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and lesser concentrations (P<0.01) of reduced glutathione (GSH) and tissues total proteins were observed in liver and kidney of rats exposed to malathion. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were less in livers and kidneys of rats exposed to malathion. These effects caused by exposure to malathion were reversed when rats were subsequently treated orally with 100 mg/kg b.w. tocopherol and/or 0.1 mg selenium/kg b.w. Both tocopherol and selenium (Se) reduced the concentration of MDA, and increased concentration of total proteins and reduced glutathione and mean activities of SOD, CAT and GPx, to levels that were not significantly different from unexposed, control rats, previous to exposure to malathion. Selenium was significantly (P<0.05) more effective at recovering activities of SOD and GPx in liver and kidney of malathion treated rats than was alpha-tocopherol, whereas, alpha-tocopherol was significantly (P<0.05) more effective at recovering activities of CAT in liver and kidney than was Se. Both alpha-tocopherol and Se were effective in alleviating oxidative damage in liver and kidney of rats caused by malathion.