Curcumin and quercetin ameliorate cypermethrin and deltamethrin induced male sterility by upregulating activity of pituitary gonadal hormones and steroidogenic enzymes

The intake of dietary antioxidants (plant phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids) is considered very important for human well being. Curcumin and quercetin are polyphenolic bioactive compounds imparting benefit to human health. The industrial revolution has resulted excessive use of pesticides/insectcides in agricultural practices household pest management. Synthetic pyrethroids are among the most widely used insecticides because of their high effectiveness against a wide range of insects, rapid biodegradation, low mammalian toxicity and target oriented mechanism of action. Cypermethrin (Cyp) and deltamethrin (Del) are common synthetic pyrethroid used in agriculture, forestry as well as in public and animal health programmes. The aim of study was to assess reproductive toxicity associated with cypermethrin and deltamethrin exposure and the possible protective effect of curcumin and quercetin. Forty two male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of six rats each. Group I was taken as control, group II exposed to Cyp (2 mg/kg bw), group III Del (2 mg/kg bw), group IV Cyp +Del (2 mg/kg bw each), group V Cyp and Del treated with curcumin (100 mg/kg bw), group VI Cyp and Del treated with quercetin (100 mg/kg bw) and group VII Cyp and Del treated with quercetin+curcumin (100 mg/kg bw each) for 28 days. Cyp and Del administration caused decrease in reproductive organ weight, sperm count, sperm motility, steroidogenic enzymes (3-beta HSD and 17-beta HSD), reproductive hormones (T, LH, FSH), non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) and increased in sperm abnormalities, and LPO. Single and combined treatment with curcumin and quercetin against these pesticide significantly altered the changes induced by pesticides. In conclusion, curcumin and quercetin are protective agent against cypermethrin and deltamethrin induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress damage in rats.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2: Effect of Cyp & Del and (arrows in red) Curcumin & Quercetin (arrows in green) on pituitary gonadal hormones (Fig. 1) and steroidogenic enzymes (Fig. 2)