Biochemical Study of The Ameliorative Influences of Fennel Oil against Cyproconazole-Induced Adrenal Gland Damage in Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Cyproconazole (CPZ) is a triazole fungicide used to protect crops against a variety of fungal diseases. Objective: This investigation aimed to evaluate the probable protective benefits of fennel oil, a natural oil extracted from the plant Foeniculum Vulgare, against CPZ-induced adrenal gland injury in rats. Methods: Sixty male rats were allocated into: control, fennel oil, CPZ-low dose, CPZ-high dose, CPZ-low dose + fennel oil, and CPZ-high dose + fennel oil. After 15 days of daily treatment, serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), total cholesterol (TC), and free cholesterol (FC) were estimated. The adrenal gland tissues were also investigated to assess the amount of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), the efficacy of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), along with evaluating the status of DNA fragmentation using the Comet assay. Results: CPZ substantially induced damage in the adrenal gland, as evidenced by elevated serum levels of ACTH, TC, FC, and LDL-c as well as reduced serum levels of cortisol and HDL-c. Also, high levels of MDA, decreased GSH levels, and diminished activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in adrenal gland tissues in CPZ-treated groups. Furthermore, CPZ caused DNA damage in adrenal gland cells. Fennel oil co-treatment reversed CPZ hazardous effects on the biochemical parameters and DNA damage. Conclusion: This study claimed that fennel oil co-treatment could ameliorate CPZ-induced adrenal gland injury in male rats.

Histological and ultrastructural study on the pathogenicity of the fungicide cyproconazole and the probable protective influence of fennel oil extract on the adrenal cortex of adult rats

“…Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation may also have an impact on cellular DNA and lysosomes, rendering cells highly vulnerable to toxininduced cell death (Niedowicz & Daleke, 2005). These changes detected within the probable protective influence of fennel oil extract on the adrenal cortex of adult rats adrenocortical cells resulted in lowered energy level and inhibition of steroidogenesis capacity of the adrenocortical cells as recently confirmed through biochemical assessment of the serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol which showed highly significant decrease in their levels in comparison with the control group (Yousef et al, 2022). Numerous CYP450 subtypes were stimulated by the oxidative stress brought by CPZ, which led to increased ROS production during CYP450's catalytic cycle and the synthesis of reactive metabolites during CPZ biotransformation.…”

“…The current structural and fine structural changes recorded in the adrenal cortices of CPZ-intoxicated animals may be related to cellular oxidative stress which has a major role in CPZ-induced adrenocortical cytotoxicity. Biochemical investigation of Yousef et al (2022) illustrated that CPZ substantially induced damage to the adrenal gland which was evidenced by elevated serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as reduced serum levels of cortisol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Also, high levels of malondialdehyde, decreased reduced glutathione levels, and diminished activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were recorded in the adrenal gland tissues of CPZ-treated groups.…”

“…This action is assumed to be primarily due to their redox properties which are responsible for the adsorption, neutralization and removal of free radicals, the destruction of singlet and triplet oxygen, and the solubility of peroxides (Singh et al, 2006). In this regard, Yousef et al (2022) stated that fennel oil extract co-treatment reversed CPZ hazardous effects on the biochemical parameters and DNA structure.…”