Effect of Abamectin on Liver Function and Lipid Peroxidation

he objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of abamectin on liver function of rats. Abamectin is used as antiparasitic drug in agricultural and domestic animals. Sixty adult male albino rats (150±10g) were classified into 3 groups: Group (1), Control group given tap water; Group (II) Sub-acute group orally treated with 2 /3 LD50 of abamectin (9.83 mg/kg b.w) for 21 days (4 doses/week) and Group (III) Sub-chronic group orally treated with 2 /5 LD50 of abamectin (5.93 mg/kg b.w) for 57 days (4 doses/week). Serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and acid phosphatase as well as hepatic malondiadehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferease (GST) and uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) were measured. The results revealed significant increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP and GGT activities in groups II and III, besides increases in alkaline phosphatase in group II compared to the control. The results also showed significant increase in the hepatic MDA in groups II and III compared with the control value. Abamectin also induced a significant inhibition of hepatic GST in groups II and III together with a significant increase of UDPGT activity only in group II compared with the control group. In addition, a non significant change between group II and III was observed with respect to UDPGT activity. In conclusion, the present study indicated that abamectin pesticide may have harmful effects on liver, thus precautions are recommended to avoid its effect on human.