Hepatotoxicity of Short Term Exposure to Mancozeb Fungicide in Male Wistar Rats

Mancozeb is a dithiocarbamate fungicide used effectively to protect plant products against fungi. The hepatic effects of short term exposure to mancozeb in adult male Wistar rats were investigated in the present study. Twenty-four animals were divided into four equal groups. Two groups were administered mancozeb (60 mg/kg body weight as single dose or 30 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days, intraperitoneally), and the others, which served as control groups, received normal saline. Liver biochemical parameters in plasma were measured using standard methods. Liver homogenates were analysed for oxidative stress biomarkers and liver histopathology was studied. Single dose and 10 days exposures of mancozeb caused elevation in the activities of Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), and Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT) in plasma (p<0.05-0.001) compared with control. Mancozeb also caused elevation in the plasma level of total bilirubin, and reductions in albumin, total protein, and conjugated bilirubin. In addition, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Advanced Oxidation Protein Product (AOPP) levels were increased in hepatic tissues (p<0.001) of all mancozeb exposed rats. Furthermore, hepatic levels of protein, reduced Glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C were decreased (p<0.01), together with the activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), catalase, and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) enzymes (p<0.01-0.001). Histological analysis showed severe histopathological changes in mancozeb exposed rats. The results demonstrated that single dose intraperitoneal exposure of mancozeb (60 mg/kg body weight) or short term (10 days) daily exposure at 30 mg/kg body weight is capable of causing hepatotoxic effects in rats.