Cypermethrin induced oxidative damage in female rat ovary and its protection by zinc and α-lipoic acid

Cypermethrin, a type II synthetic pyrethroid, is widely used in agricultural field, animal husbandry and public health sector. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cypermethrin on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in female rats and the protective effect of zinc and α-lipoic acid. In this study, cypermethrin was orally administered at 34.33 and 51.5 mg/kg dose levels for consecutive 14 days alone or along withpre-administration of zinc (1-2mg/kg body wt) and αlipoic acid (35 mg/kg body wt). Cypermethrin caused significant increase in LPO and decrease in reducedglutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activity. Co-administration of zinc and α-lipoic acid attenuated cypermethrin induced ovarian oxidative stress by decreasing LPO in ovary. In addition to this, zinc and α-lipoic acid increased ovarian GSH level and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity. From the findings, it can be concluded that cypermethrin induced oxidative stress in female rat and the administration of zinc and α-lipoic acid provided significant protection against cypermethrin-induced damage due to oxidative stress.