Fenugreek Supplementation Imparts Erythrocyte Resistance to Cypermethrin Induced Oxidative Changes In Vivo

Erythrocytes are excellent model to study the xenobiotic induced oxidative changes. Pyrethroid pesticides are increasingly being used in insecticidal preparations from the simple mosquito coils to house hold aerosols to sophisticated ultra low volume foggers and sprays. Cypermethrin a Type II pyrethroid pesticide, is used widely in pest control. Fenugreek is a potent antioxidant. We have evaluated the potential of aqueous extract of germinated fenugreek seeds in counteracting cypermethrin induced oxidative changes in erythrocytes of male Wistar rats. Male
Wistar rats were treated with 1/10 LD50 (25mg/kg body weight) of cypermethrin and 10 percent aqueous extract of germinated fenugreek for 60 days. Cypermethrin treatment caused significant decrease in non enzymatic antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), vitamin E, vitamin C, increased
methemoglobin formation in erythrocytes and increased their mechanical fragility. Treatment with fenugreek reversed the cypermethrin induced oxidative changes in erythrocytes and restored all the parameters to near normal levels. The overall results reveal the ameliorating effect of aqueous
extract of germinated fenugreek on cypermethrin induced toxicity in erythrocytes.