Protective effect of green tea extract on chlorpyrifos induced toxicity in liver of male mice

Pesticides are vital for boosting agricultural yields and ensuring global food security, yet they have far-reaching ecological consequences that impact diverse species across trophic levels. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a prevalent but controversial organophosphate pesticide that acts as an endocrine disruptor, oxidative stress inducer, and hepatotoxic agent. This research was designed to examine the potential of green tea extract to reverse the functional and structural alterations induced by CPF in male albino mice and to evaluate any related hepatotoxicity associated with green tea extract. The experimental protocol lasted for 28 days, with adult male mice (N = 40) assigned to one of four experimental cohorts (n = 10 per group): (i) Control (untreated): standard diet and water; (ii) Green Tea: 20 mg/kg/day sole GT extract; (iii) CPF: 25 mg/kg/day CPF (dissolved in corn oil); (iv) CPF + GT: 25 mg/kg/day CPF in corn oil and 20 mg/kg/day GT extract, with 2-hour gap. Results demonstrated that CPF administration induced hepatomegaly (p < 0.01) and reduced the body weight significantly (p < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed an increase in binucleated hepatocytes (p < 0.05), tissue loosening, portal vein necrosis and enlarged mononucleated hepatocytes and nuclear diameter (p < 0.001). Serum Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were elevated (p < 0.01), while a significant decrease in albumin levels was observed (p < 0.05). Conversely, co-administration of green tea mitigated these effects, restoring liver weight and hepatocyte count, promoting hepatic tissue regeneration, and improving serum liver enzyme and protein levels.