Oxidative stress induced by Roundup in rat liver and brain: attenuation by zinc sulfate

The aim of this study was to investigate the propensity of Roundup (RDP) to induce oxidative stress in the liver and brain of male Wistar rats and its possible attenuation by zinc sulfate. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I served as control rats, group II was treated with 269.9 mg RDP/kg bw administered in drinking water, group III rats have received Zn (277 mg/l) through oral way as zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ), and group IV animals were treated with RDP and Zn. The exposure of rats to RDP, during 30 days, caused the increase of the following serum hepatic markers: glucose, aminotransferases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total bilirubin (TB), along with reduced total protein content and albumin. Besides, this toxicity associated with an increase of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP). Also, the antioxidant defense system such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S -transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both the brain and liver is reduced compared with the control group, while the level of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity is increased. The treatment with zinc significantly restored the majority of these biochemical and oxidative stress parameters to normal levels, as well as improved the inhibition of AChE activity in the brain caused by RDP, thus emphasizing the protective potential of zinc in restoring the altered hepatic and cerebrum histoarchitecture. In conclusion, this study indicates that Zn protects against the toxicity of Roundup by providing hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects.