Protective effects of pomegranate peel extract against fipronil-induced pulmonary toxicity in Wistar albino rats

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum phenyl pyrazole insecticide commonly used in agricultural, veterinary, and household practices. The present study was carried out to investigate the histopathological alterations induced by fipronil in the lungs of male Wistar albino rats and its amelioration with pomegranate peel extract. A total of 24 rats were divided into four groups with six animals in each group. Group I served as a control group provided with adlibitum feed and distilled water. Group II animals were treated with 10 mgkg b. wt. fipronil orally for 45 days, group III animals were treated with pomegranate peel extract at 200 mgkg b. wt. and group IV animals were treated with both fipronil ( 10mgkg b. wt.) and pomegranate peel extract ( 200 mgkg b. wt.) during the experimental period. Histopathological examination of lungs of fipronil-treated rats showed severe degenerative changes like hyperplastic and hyaline arteriosclerotic changes, degenerated and desquamated bronchial epithelium, perivascular oedema, mononuclear aggregates, etc. These changes were alleviated after administering Punica granatum peel extract along with fipronil which clearly indicates the protective effect of pomegranate peel extract against pulmonary injury induced by fipronil.