Protective effects of thymol on deltamethrin-induced toxicity of Channa argus in association with the NF-κB/Nrf2/p53 pathway

This study was aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of thymol-supplemented diets on the toxicity damage of Channa argus induced by deltamethrin (DEL). After 28 d, the results are as follows: thymol can attenuate DEL-induced oxidative stress by reversing the decrease of the activities of antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, GSH, GST and GSH-Px) and the increase of the MDA content in the tissues (liver and spleen), and also by reversing the decrease of the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, Cu/Zn SOD and HO-1, and the increase of the Keap1 mRNA expression level in the tissues (liver and spleen). Thymol can attenuate DEL-induced immunotoxicity of fish by reverse the decrease of the levels of humoral immune parameters (C4, C3, IgM and LYS) in the serum, and by reversing the increase of the expression levels of NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-6, and the decrease of the IL-10 expression level in the tissues (liver and spleen). Thymol can attenuate DEL-caused apoptosis reversing the increase of the expression levels of pro-apoptosis (p53, Bax and Apaf-1) and the decrease of the expression level of anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 in the tissues (liver and spleen). Therefore, this study reveals that dietary supplementation of thymol alleviates DEL-caused immunotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of C. argus in association with the NF-κB/Nrf2/p53 pathway. •Thymol attenuated DEL-induced liver damage of C. argus•Thymol attenuated DEL-induced oxidative stress of C. argus by activating Nrf2 pathway•Thymol attenuated DEL-induced immunotoxicity of C. argus by inhibiting NF-κB pathway.•Thymol attenuated DEL-induced cell apoptosis of C. argus by inhibiting P53 pathway