Protective Role of Quercetin Against Aluminium Phosphide-Induced Gastric Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Oral exposure to aluminium phosphide (ALP), an extensively used pesticide, has been reported to cause multiorgan and systemic toxicity, including significant gastrointestinal damage. Quercetin (QUE) is widely recognized for its ability to protect the gastrointestinal tract against various insults and toxicities. However, its likely protective effects against ALP-induced gastric toxicity is largely undocumented. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the protective role of quercetin against aluminium phosphide induced-gastric toxicity in Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups: Groups I and II served as control and vehicle control, while Groups III-VII received for 28 days, ALP (2mg/kg) alone, QUE (25mg/kg) alone, QUE cotreatment+ALP, QUE pretreated+ALP and ALP+QUE posttreatment, respectively. Blood and gastric juice samples were collected under anaesthesia for haematological and biochemical analyses. The stomach tissues were excised and analysed for gastric mucin content, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and histology Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls’ post-hoc test (p<0.05). Quercetin significantly mitigated ALP-induced gastric toxicity (p<0.05) with co-treatment and pretreatment groups showing enhanced SOD and GSH levels, reduced MDA and NO, increased mucous and parietal cell counts and preserved mucosal integrity, compared with the ALP-only group (Group III, p<0.05). Post-treatment (Group VII) provided moderate recovery but was less effective in reversing ALP-induced gastric damage. Except for WBC count, haematological parameters (PCV, haemoglobin, and RBC count) showed no significant changes across groups (p>0.05). Quercetin treatment mitigated ALP-induced gastric toxicity, with co-treatment and pre-treatment showing superior protective effects.