Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used organophosphorus insecticide throughout the world in agriculture and anti-termites around homes. Silymarin is a naturally occurring substance and has antioxidant effects. For decades, it has been used clinically in Europe for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and as anti-hepatotoxic agent. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the protective and curative effect of silymarin in attenuating the CPF-induced immunotoxicity in rats, by measuring the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG), lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic function assay, total white blood cells count (WBC) and relative differential white blood cells count, as well as nitric oxide (NO) level and catalase activity. The treatment with CPF decreased lymphocyte viability, neutrophil phagocytic index, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, IgG concentration and catalase activity. On the other hand, a high level of NO was detected upon animal treatment with CPF. Interestingly, pre- and post-treatment with silymarin to CPF-treated group improved the lymphocyte viability, total white blood cells count, relative lymphocyte count, catalase activity and the NO level. Preand post-treatment with silymarin recovered phagocytic activity of neutrophils and restored IgG level. In conclusion, silymarin has both protective and curative effects against CPF-induced immunotoxicity may be through its anti-oxidant effects.
El Elaimy, I. A., Ibrahim, H. M., Abdel Gafaar, F. R., & Al-Awthan, Y. S. (2013). Protective and curative effect of silymarin against chlorpyrifos-induced immunotoxicity in rats. Delta Journal of Science, 36(2), 106-115. doi: 10.21608/djs.2013.139662
MLA
Ibrahim A. El Elaimy; Hany M. Ibrahim; Faten R. Abdel Gafaar; Yahya S. Al-Awthan. "Protective and curative effect of silymarin against chlorpyrifos-induced immunotoxicity in rats", Delta Journal of Science, 36, 2, 2013, 106-115. doi: 10.21608/djs.2013.139662
HARVARD
El Elaimy, I. A., Ibrahim, H. M., Abdel Gafaar, F. R., Al-Awthan, Y. S. (2013). 'Protective and curative effect of silymarin against chlorpyrifos-induced immunotoxicity in rats', Delta Journal of Science, 36(2), pp. 106-115. doi: 10.21608/djs.2013.139662
VANCOUVER
El Elaimy, I. A., Ibrahim, H. M., Abdel Gafaar, F. R., Al-Awthan, Y. S. Protective and curative effect of silymarin against chlorpyrifos-induced immunotoxicity in rats. Delta Journal of Science, 2013; 36(2): 106-115. doi: 10.21608/djs.2013.139662