European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
Randa S. Hana and Nareman Saed

Abstract
The wide spread use of malathion (an organophosphate insecticide) in agriculture leads to deleterious effects on human and animals Linseed (= flax seed) oil is a good source of antioxidants more than any other grain. Aim of the work: 1) Study the chemical composition and antioxidant content of linseed oil and evaluate the effect of linseed oil in alleviating the toxic effects of malathion in mice. 2) investigate the effect of malathion toxicity on liver [ Alanine  and  aspartate transaminase activities (ALT, AST) ],kidney  [urea and creatinine], immunlogical function  [Interleukin 2,4 and TN Fα] and markers of oxidative stress [Malondialdhyde (MDA) ] and antioxidants [catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione (GSH) ]in mice and in nine malathion exposed patients compared to nine age and sex matched healthy individuals. 3)study the sensitivity and specificity of the studied cytokines as risk markers in malathion poisoning cases. Methods :Fatty acids composition of linseed oil was estimated by Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Linseed oil content of vitamin C , vitamin E and B carotene were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)   with  UV  detection , minerals and heavy metals contents were assayed using atomic absorption.Eighteen adult male rats were used and divided into 3 groups of 6 rats /each. Group I: animals were given linseed oil at a dose of 0.5 ml per animal served as a control group. Group II: animals were given Malathion at a sublethal dose of 27mg/kgb.wt./ day. GroupsIII: animals were given both linseed oil at the same dose of group II three hours before the administration of Malathion. At the end of the experimental period, the kidney and liver functions and markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants were investigated. The patients study  group included nine  male patients of malathion poisoning  cases admitted to Assiut university hospital compared to nine control subjects.The same parameters as in the experimental animals groups were investigated. Results:  Malathion exposure caused increase in the serum urea, creatinine, AST, ALT for malathion treated rats and patients (P< 0.001 for all). However, in rats, Co - administration of linseed oil to Malathion resulted  in a  significant alleviation of the kidney , liver injuries evidenced by a decrease of biochemical indices; urea , creatinine , AST , ALT ( P<0.001 for all except ALT <0.05) when compared to the Malathion-treated group. All these effects may    be  due to the antioxidant effect of linseed oil as treatment with it significantly elevated  the  decreased  CAT   activity  observed  with  malathion treated rats (P<0.001).Moreover, it significantly elevated the SOD levels when compared to  the malathion-treated animals (P<0.001).Furthermore, the GSH level reduced significantly (P<0.001) along with increased in MDA concentration (P < 0.001)       in the malathion treated group as compared to the control group and  similar effect was observed in malathion exposed individuals (P<0.01,P< 0.001respectively). Moreover, on treatment with linseed oil, the GSH level was found to be enhanced significantly (P<0.001) and the MDA contents were reduced (P<0.001) when compared to Malathion treated group. There was a significant increase in the level of IL2, IL4 and TNFα in the serum of   malathion treated group and poisoned cases compared to controls (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of the current  study showed  that malathion  induces oxidative stress in animals and human affecting markedly the liver, kidney and  immunological functions  and  that linseed oil  possesses   a  potent protective effect against  the oxidative stress induced by sublethal dose of  malathion  on  the rat.