Protective Effect of Salvia officinalis Extract on Deltamethrin-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Background and purpose: Deltamethrin is one of the major pesticides used in agriculture to control pests. Oxidative stress is one of the deltamethrin toxicity mechanisms. Different antioxidants have been investigated to deal with the oxidative damage of toxic substances. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Salvia officinalis extract against deltamethrin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods: In an experimental study, 30 Wistar rats weighing 200-220 g were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6 per group); group I was the control, group II received deltamethrin (15 mg/kg), group III received both deltamethrin (15 mg/kg) and  S. officinalis extract (100 mg/kg), group IV received both deltamethrin (15 mg/kg) and S. officinalis extract (200 mg/kg), and group V received merely S. officinalis extract. After 30 consecutive days, liver tissues were evaluated for the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase levels and histopathological changes. Results: According to findings, Salvia extract could considerably reduce malondialdehyde levels, improve the glutathione peroxidase activity, and reduce the liver damage caused by deltamethrin. Conclusion: S. officinalis extract showed antioxidant properties and reduced the toxic effects of deltamethrin, so, it can be used as a strong antioxidant in preventing and improving the effects of deltamethrin.