Hepatotoxicity induced by subacute exposure of Mancozeb and Arsenic in Wistar rats: Mitigating effect of quercetin and catechin

Widespread use of Mancozeb (MZ) fungicide in endemic areas having high levels of arsenic (As +3 ) in the groundwater is likely to cause toxicosis in humans and animals. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the hepatotoxic effect of MZ and As +3 interaction in Wistar rats and mitigating potential of quercetin and catechin on such toxicity. Sixty adult rats were randomly divided into 10 groups of 6 animals each. Group I served as control and group II was exposed to MZ (800 mg kg -1 , PO). Groups III, IV, and V were provided drinking water containing As +3 at the rate of 10, 50 and 100 µg L -1 , respectively. Groups VI, VII, and VIII were given drinking water containing As +3 at 10, 50 and 100 µg L -1 , respectively, along with MZ. Groups IX and X received drinking water contaminated with 100 µg L -1 , As +3 and MZ along with quercetin or catechin (50 mg kg -1 each), respectively. Significant (p <0.05) alterations in hepatic biomarkers in blood, liver antioxidant status and hepatic histoarchitecture were observed in animals treated with individual toxicants in a dose-dependent manner, however, such toxicity-induced changes were more severe in co-exposed rats. The administration of quercetin or catechin significantly mitigated the dual toxicant administration-driven changes in biochemical markers of hepatic damage, hepatic antioxidant profile and liver histomorphology. Both quercetin and catechin proved beneficial in reducing toxicant-induced oxidation-mediated hepatic damage as demonstrated by alleviation in altered levels of determinants of hepatic biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in addition to restoration of toxicant-induced histological alterations of hepatic tissue.