EVALUATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL FOR DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF AL-TAIF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L) INDUCED BY ATRAZINE AND MALATHION PESTICIDES IN LIVER OF MALE ALBINO MICE

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Al-Taif Pomegranate Peel extract (PPE) and juice (PJ) induced by atrazine (Atra) and malathion (Mal) toxicity in male mice by using biochemical and histopathological assays.Methods: Male mice were divided into ten groups and treated orally as following: Negative control; Mal group (27 mg/kg); Atra group (120 mg/kg); PPE group (0.4 g/Kg); PJ group (0.4 g/Kg);Mal + PPE group (27 mg/Kg + 0.4 g/Kg, respectively); Mal + PJ group (27mg/Kg + 0.4 g/Kg, respectively); Atra + PPE group (120mg/Kg + 0.4 g/Kg, respectively); Atra + PJ group (120mg/Kg + 0.4 g/Kg, respectively); Mal + Atra + PPE + PJ combined co-administration group.Results: Biochemical results showed a significant decrease in the antioxidant enzyme levels represented by SOD, GPxand CAT for Mal or Atra groups, while they afforded a highly significant increase in lipid peroxidation end product, MDA level. In contrast, co-administration of PPE and/or PJ and Atra and/or Mal-treated groups restored almost most of these antioxidant defense capacities to normal levels. On the other hand, treatmentwith eitherAtra or Mal resulted in histopathological hepatic alterations. However, co-administration of PPEand/or PJ and Atra and/or Mal-treated animals improved the hepatic damage and alleviated pesticides toxic effect.Conclusion: The present study suggested that Atra and Mal exposure lead to oxidative damage in the liver tissues of mice and concomitant treatment with different extracts of Al-Taif Pomegranate protected the liver tissues from oxidative damage.Â