Ameliorative role of zinc on cypermethrin-induced changes in haematological parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers in rat erythrocytes

Cypermethrin is an active pesticide that has been used for more than three decades which controls a wide variety of pests in agriculture. The present study designed to evaluate the protective role of zinc in attenuating cypermethrin induced haematological toxicity and oxidative stress in erythrocytes of male rat. Wistar male rats received oral cypermethrin at two dose levels and zinc alone or zinc pre-treatment with cypermethrin for consecutive 14 days. The toxic effects of cypermethrin were observed on various haematological parameters. Administration of cypermethrin resulted in enhanced malondialdehyde level, depletion of reduced glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes of rat erythrocytes. However pre-treatment of zinc in combination with cypermethrin improved haematological status and restored the oxidative markers to their normal levels. Based upon these data, the present study reveals that zinc treatment attenuates cypermethrin exposed haematotoxicity.