Induction of neurotoxicity by organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos and modulating role of cow urine

INTRODUCTION Organophosphate pesticides are among the most widely used synthetic chemicals for controlling a wide variety of pests and for domestic purposes. Among these chlorpyrifos (CPF) is the most extensively used pesticide throughout the world, including India. OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to examine the neurotoxicity induced by CPF and modulatory effect of cow urine as a natural antioxidant alternative to reduce the neurotoxic effects of CPF. DESIGN For this purpose LD50 was determined and one fourth of LD50 was selected (38 mg/kg body weight (b.wt)) for treatment of rats. The antioxidant level of cow urine was determined by ABTS assay. RESULTS Exposure to pesticides resulted in significant reduction in the acetylcholinestrase (AChE) activity (P ≤ 0.01). However, groups pretreated with cow urine had improved levels of AChE activity as compared to CPF treated groups. CONCLUSION Thus, the present findings clearly show that oral CPF has the propensity to cause significant neurotoxicity in rat brains while cow urine treatment alleviates CPF induced toxicity to a greater extent. In addition, AChE can be used as a potential biomarker of toxicity associated with pesticide exposure.