Toxicopathology of Indoxacarb and Its Amelioration with Vitamin C in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

Indoxacarb (IND) is a promising new foliar broad-spectrum insecticide that belongs to the oxadiazine class. Insecticides are a class of chemicals found in the environment that can cause harm to plants, animals, and humans. Vitamin C (VIT-C) is a water-soluble antioxidant that has been found to lower oxidative stress and neutralise reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the ameliorative effect of vitamin C on indoxacarb toxicity. For this purpose, 20 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four different groups as I to IV. Group I, II, III and IV received vehicle (control), IND (26.8 mg/kg b.wt.), VIT-C (200 mg/kg b.wt.) and IND + VIT-C (26.8 mg/kg b.wt. IND + 200 mg/kg b.wt. VIT-C) respectively by oral gavages daily for 28 days. Group II (IND) rats showed reduction in food intake, dehydration, weakness, mild diarrhoea, weight loss, tremor, rolling and head tilt as compared to control rats. Clinical symptoms that were seen in Group II rats were also observed in Group IV rats, though to a lesser degree. There was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in TEC, Hb and HCT values of Groups II (IND) and IV (IND + VIT-C) rats when compared with control rats. ALP was observed significant increase (P < 0.05) in Group II female rats when compared with negative and positive control animals, but complete recovery of ALP was noticed in IND + VIT-C group rats. The rats of Groups II (IND) and IV (IND + VIT-C) showed significant (P < 0.05) increase in total antioxidant status in comparison to control Group rats. Grossly, stomach was distended and filled with undigested feed materials in Groups II and IV rats. Histopathological changes (degeneration, necrosis and congestion) in the IND group were increased when compared to the control group. These microscopic lesions were also visible in the Group IV (IND + VIT-C) animals to a lesser extent. Ameliorative effect of vitamin C was observed on clinical signs, body weight, haematology and biochemical alterations as well as, on histopathological changes in indoxacarb intoxicated rats.