Fluopyram Induced Oxidative Stress, Biochemical and Histopathological Changes in Brain and Blood of Albino Rats

Fluopyram, a widely used fungicide in agriculture, has raised concerns regarding its potential toxicity and adverse effects on non-target organisms. The present study was designed to investigate the adverse effect of two doses of fluopyram (0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg body weight/day) on antioxidant enzymes and histopathological changes in the brain of male and female albino rats for 28 days and its amelioration with ginger extract. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were decreased and there was significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in the brain and blood plasma of male and female albino rats. Histopathological alterations in the brain revealed mononuclear cell infiltration, pyknotic neurons, degenerated neurons(DN), increased perinuclear space and hemorrhage in treated rats indicating fluopyram's neurotoxic potential. Rats treated with ginger extract and fluopyram showed restored antioxidant enzyme activities in blood and brain tissue and restored histopathological changes in brain. These pathophysiological alterations in blood and brain tissues could be due to potential toxic effects of fluopyram that is associated with generation of free radicals.