Effect of quercetin against mixture of four organophosphate pesticides induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

1. It has been demonstrated that the ingestion of foods containing quercetin protects against the toxicity of single pesticides. The aim of this study is to make a comprehensive elaboration about the protective effect of quercetin against multi-organophosphorous pesticides induced nephrotoxicity by measuring indices in rat kidney, urine and serum. Rats were divided into six groups (n = 10/group): control, two different doses of quercetin, pesticide mixture (PM), and different doses of quercetin plus PM-treated groups. 2. The following parameters were significantly changed in PM-treated groups compared with the control (p < 0.01). In kidney, malondialdehyde level raised; catalase, superoxide dismutase activities and glutathione levels were decreased. Comet assay of nephrocytes showed that the proportion of DNA in the tail and tail length increased. In urine, β2-microglobulin, retinol-conjugated protein levels and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity showed increasing response; meanwhile uric acid level was decreased. In serum, creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were increased. However, the anomaly changes of indexes mentioned above in PM-treated group were alleviated when simultaneously administrated with 50 mg/kg body weight/day quercetin (p < 0.05). 3. From the present findings, it can be evaluated that quercetin may protect against adverse effects resulted from multi-organophosphorous pesticides with significant high levels of uptake in man provided.