Abstract

Methomyl has a significant animal and public health problem. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of nicotinic acid against the acute toxic effects induced by methomyl in albino rats. Four groups were divided into control, nicotinic acid (NA) (100 mg/kg b.wt./twice daily) for 7 successive days, methomyl (MET) (8 mg/kg b.wt.) and nicotinic acid plus methomyl (NA+MET) treated groups. Red blood cells-RBCs count; hemoglobin- Hb, packed cell volume-PCV and blood indices were measured. Hepatic marker enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase-AST, alanine aminotransferase-ALT and alkaline phosphatase-ALP), proteinogram (total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/ globulin ratio), serum bilirubin (total, direct and indirect) and serum urea and creatinine were measured. Acute MET toxicity resulted in normocytic normochromic anemia with a significant (P<0.05) increase in the AST, ALT and ALP activities. Serum protein and globulin were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with an increase in albumin globulin ratio (A/G ratio) in MET treated rats. Bilirubin (total and direct) and kidney markers were significantly (P<0.05) increased. The NA pretreatment showed an improvement in the erythrocytic parameters. It restored the hepatic and renal markers. This is the first study investigating the effects of NA supplementation on the hematological and biochemical parameters of methomyl intoxicated rats. These findings suggest that the nicotinic acid could be used in amelioration of the methomyl toxicity.

Keywords: Kidney; Liver; Methomyl, Nicotinic acid; Rats; Toxicity