Optimization and pharmacological evaluation of phytochemical-rich Cuscuta reflexa seed extract for its efficacy against chlorpyrifos-induced hepatotoxicity in murine models

The popular organophosphorus (OP) compound chlorpyrifos (CP) has recently gained significant attention due to its health risks, particularly among farmers exposed to OP pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Cuscuta reflexa seed extract (CRSE) and its efficacy of mitigating the adverse effects of CP in albino male mice. For acute toxicity analysis, the first group was served as the control group, while the second group was received CRSE (200 mg/kg/bw) on the first day of the 14-day experiment. For hepatotoxicity analysis, the first group was the control group, the second group (vehicle control) received corn oil (CO) (2 mL/kg/bw), the third group was given CP (20 mg/kg/bw) dissolved in corn oil and the fourth group was given CP (20 mg/kg/bw) along-with CRSE (200 mg/kg/bw) orally via gavage once daily for 21 days. The acute toxicity examination revealed no statistically significant differences between the CRSE-treated and control groups in serum biochemical indicators and histopathological analyses of various organs, suggesting that CRSE as safe at a dosage of 200 mg/kg/bw, with an oral LD₅₀ in mice higher than 200 mg/kg. The hepatotoxicity study demonstrated that the CP administration resulted in liver damage and oxidative stress, while CRSE acted as an antioxidant and attenuated the signs of oxidative stress in liver damage. Hence, a promising therapeutic approach for lowering CP hepatotoxicity is co-treatment with CRSE.