Protective potential of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. against Dicofol-induced poisoning in rats as established through clinical chemistry, histopathology and 1H-NMR-based metabonomics

Abstract

Pesticides, organochlorines, analogues and derivatives of DDT, those are all terms often associated with health risks, intoxications, nephropathies and other hepatotoxicities. These are phytosanitary products that interfere with the internal metabolism of sensitive organs, such as the kidney or the liver, which orchestrate the metabolism and elimina on of xenobiotics. In this study, a group of Wistar rats was intraperitoneally exposed to Dicofol, a pesticide analogue of DDT. A second group received preven ve injec ons of a diluted thyme essen al oil solu on for four days before exposure to Dicofol. The evaluation of the toxic effects possibly induced by Dicofol in the two experimental groups was carried out using a mul disciplinary approach in- cluding clinical chemistry, histopathology and 1H-NMR-based metabonomics. Histopathological examina on showed pulmonary in amma on and kidney damage in the group exposed to Dicofol. The metabonomic study revealed metabolic disturbances in the liver and kidney. The protective role of the essential oil of thyme was clearly demonstrated from the metabonomic profiles and was confirmed by histological examina on of organs.