African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (20), pp. 1909-1912, 16 October 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Cyfluthrin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

OMOTUYI I. O.¹, OLUYEMI, K. A.², OMOFOMA C. O.³, JOSIAH S. J.¹ and SAALU, L. C.²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Igbinedion University, PMB 0006, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Anatomy, Igbinedion University PMB 0006, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.

³Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: almondheartinuke@yahoo.com. 

Accepted 29 June, 2006

The hepatotoxic effect of continous administration of cyfluthrin was investigated in rats. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) were grouped into A (0 ppm) control, B (100 ppm) and C (200 ppm) with the indicated amount of cyfluthrin administered orally for 15 weeks.The hepatotoxicity level was assessed by monitoring the changes in the organ to body; weight ratio, micronutrient level (iron, zinc, copper and selenium), the nutritional status (total carbohydrate, total glucose, total protein, total amino acids, total lipid and total cholesterol), the lipid peroxidation level (reduced glutathione and thiobarbiturate) and the antioxidant enzyme activities (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). A dose-dependent decrease in the organ-to-body ratio was observed. The micronutrient level in the test groups increase significantly. The total carbohydrate, total glucose, total amino acids and total protein show a significant decrease in the test groups. There is no significant difference observed in the tissue cholesterol at both dosages under investigation. Lipid peroxidation was increased in the test groups as indicated by a significant increase in the thiobarbiturate level and a significant decrease in the reduced glutathione level. All the antioxidant enzymes studied increased significantly. Cyfluthrin is potentially hepatotoxic under continuous administration in rats.

Key words: Cyfluthrin, hepatotoxicity, nutritional status and antioxidant enzymes.