We aimed in the present study to investigate the hepato- and nephroprotective effects of Lavandula stoechas
essential oils (LSEO) against
malathion-induced oxidative stress in young male mice as well as the possible mechanism implicated in such protection. Animals were divided into eight groups of 12 each: Control,
malathion (200 mg/kg b.w.); Various doses of LSEO (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg b.w.), malathion+various doses of LSEO.
Malathion and LSEO were daily per orally (p.o.) administered by intragastric gavage during 30 days. We initially found that
malathion treatment induced
body weight gain decrease as well as a clear nephro- and hepatotoxicity as assessed by significant relative liver and kidney weight increase and related hemodynamic parameters deregulation.
Malathion exposure of mice also induced a considerable perturbation of metabolic parameters. On the other hand, we showed that
malathion administration was accompanied by an oxidative stress status assessed by an increase of
malondialdehyde (MDA) and
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels as well as a depletion of sulfhydril group content (-SH) and
antioxidant enzyme activities such as
catalase (CAT) and
glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total
superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD,
Mn-SOD, and Fe-SOD in the kidney and liver. More importantly, LSEO treatment abolished all
malathion-induced body gain loss, liver and kidney relative weight increase, hemodynamic and metabolic disorders, as well as hepatic and renal oxidative stress. In conclusion, our data suggest that LSEO exerted potential hepato- and nephroprotective effects against
malathion-induced oxidative stress in mice. The beneficial effect of LSEO might be related, in part, to its
antioxidant properties.