Protective effects of rutin against deltamethrin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats via regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

Deltamethrin is a type-II pyrethroid synthetic insecticide that is extensively used for controlling mosquitoes, flies, pests, and insects worldwide. This study was carried out to evaluate the likelihood protective effects of rutin, a natural antioxidant, against deltamethrin-induced liver and kidney toxicities in rats. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were evaluated after the rats were treated orally with deltamethrin (1.28 mg/kg b.w.) alone or with rutin (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) for 30 days. Deltamethrin administration caused an increase in lipid peroxidation level and a decrease in activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH levels in the both tissues. Deltamethrin also increased serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea, and creatinine levels, while reduced nephrine levels in rats. In addition, deltamethrin increased the activation of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways by decreasing Bcl-2 and increasing TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-1β, p38α MAPK, COX-2, iNOS, beclin-1, Bax, and caspase-3 protein levels and/or activities. Furthermore, deltamethrin increased mRNA expression levels of PARP-1, VEGF, and immunohistochemical expressions of c-fos in the tissues. Rutin treatment significantly improved all examined parameters and restored the liver and kidney histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations. These findings demonstrate that rutin could be used to ameliorate hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in deltamethrin-induced rats. Graphical abstract