P-coumaric acid ameliorates fipronil induced liver injury in mice through attenuation of structural changes, oxidative stress and inflammation

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum phenylpyrazole insecticide and has been used effectively in the agriculture. Due to its widespread use and bioaccumulation in the environment, it possesses significant threat to human and animals. P-coumaric acid is a natural dietary polyphenolic compound that has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory property. The present study was aim to investigate the ameliorative effect of p-coumaric acid on fipronil induced liver injury. The mice were divided into five groups (SHAM, FPN, FPN/PCA/50, FPN/PCA/100 and PCA/100) and challenged with fipronil @ 25 mg/kg bw (half of LD₅₀). Haematological, liver function biomarkers (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), biochemical parameters (MPO, oxidative, nitrosative stress and anti-oxidant enzyme activity), levels of serum and liver inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10), histopathology were monitored. Fipronil administration caused a significant increase in liver enzymes with concomitant significant increase in inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10) and myeloperoxidase activity. A significant increase in oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide) as well as down regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) along with histopathological changes such as microsteatosis, hypertrophy of the hepatocytes and necrosis were observed on fipronil administration. Administration of p-coumaric acid against fipronil caused decreased serum liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity and oxidative stress along with improvement in anti-oxidant enzyme levels and structural changes induced by fipronil. Thus p-coumaric acid ameliorates the FPN induced liver injury in mice through attenuation of structural changes, oxidative stress, and inflammation.