Hesperidin counteracts chlorpyrifos-induced neurotoxicity by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in rats.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), considered one of the most potent organophosphates, causes a variety of human disorders including neurotoxicity. The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of hesperidin (HSP) in ameliorating CPF-induced neurotoxicity in rats. In the study, rats were treated with HSP (orally, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min after giving CPF (orally, 6.75 mg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Molecular, biochemical, and histological methods were used to investigate cholinergic enzymes, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the brain tissue. CPF intoxication resulted in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, reduced antioxidant status [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH)], and elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activities. CPF increased histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expressions of 8-OHdG in brain tissue. CPF also increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) while decreased levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). Furthermore, CPF increased mRNA transcript levels of caspase-3, Bax, PARP-1, and VEGF, which are associated with apoptosis and endothelial damage in rat brain tissues. HSP treatment was found to protect brain tissue by reducing CPF-induced neurotoxicity. Overall, this study supports that HSP can be used to reduce CPF-induced neurotoxicity.