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Pesticides are widely used around the world to increase crop production. They also have negative impacts on animals, humans, and the ecosystem. This is the first report evaluating a novel pomegranate-extract-loaded clove-oil-based nanoemulsion (PELCN) and its potential for reducing oxidative stress and DNA damage, as well as its hepatoprotective effects against imidacloprid (IM) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) toxicity in male rats. The benchmark dose (BMD) approach was also used to study the dose–response toxicity of IM and CPF. IM and CPF were administered daily for 28 days at doses of 14, 28, and 54 mg/kg body weight (bw) of IM and 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg bw of CPF via drinking water. The PELCN was administered orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw/day of pomegranate extract, 500 mg/kg bw of the clove oil nanoemulsion, and IM or CPF at high doses in the drinking water. In male rats, IM and CPF caused a reduction in body weight gain and hepatotoxic effects as evidenced by increases in the liver enzymes AST, ALT, and ALP. They caused oxidative damage in the liver of male rats as indicated by the decreased liver activity of the GST, GPX, SOD, and CAT enzymes and decreased serum TAC. IM and CPF produced a significant dose-dependent increase in DNA damage in hepatocyte cells, resulting in moderate to severe liver damage with cells that are more inflammatory and have enlarged sinusoids and compacted nuclei. IM had a higher BMD than CPF for both body and liver weight, suggesting that CPF was more dose-dependently toxic than IM. Albumin was a highly sensitive liver biomarker for IM, while total protein was a biomarker for the CPF-treated rats. GPx was an extremely sensitive biomarker of oxidative stress in the IM treatment, while CAT and GPx were highly sensitive parameters in the CPF-treated rats. Therefore, at comparable doses, CPF has a higher potential to cause liver damage and oxidative stress than IM. The hepatotoxicity of IM and CPF can be mitigated by administering a nanoemulsion containing clove oil and pomegranate extract. The nanoemulsion acts as a protector against the oxidative stress caused by these insecticides, especially at high doses. The nanoemulsion based on clove oil increases the bioavailability and stability of the pomegranate extract, which has antioxidant properties.

This manuscript was conducted to spotlight the toxic effect of two sub-lethal concentrations of Methomyl (Copter) LC20 (0.075 g/L) and LC40 (0.180 g/L) on some biochemical parameters and histological alterations for land snail Monacha Cartusiana (Muller, 1774). Land snails belong to the class Gastropoda and Phylum Mollusca. This study cleared that both the used concentrations (of Copter) caused a significant increase for activities of three enzymes: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), and Aspartate amino transaminase (AST) after 24, 48, and 72 h from exposure starting. In contrast, a total protein (TP) activity decreased at exposure for two concentrations at all lethality periods. Both concentrations of Copter (0.0.75 g/L and 0.180 g/L) have shown histological changes for land snail tissues after 96 h of exposure; digestive gland, hermaphrodite gland, foot, and mantle. Degeneration, rupture, and vacuolization for digestive cells have been shown; furthermore, hemolytic infiltration in connective tissue will be recognized for the digestive gland. The Oocyte and sperm show degenerated with deformation in the connective tissue of the hermaphrodite gland. Likewise, deformation in the muscle fiber layer of the foot in the land snail distorts the epidermis and mucus gland suffering from necrosis. Moreover, mantle shows rapture in epidermis layer, deformed in muscle fiber layer, and vacuolization and necrosis take place in mucus gland. © 2021 The Author(s)

National and international organizations are working together with the World Health Organization to control vector-borne diseases. The extensive uses of synthetic insecticides have led to the development of insect resistance and cause adverse health effects on humans and ecosystem. The current study aimed to study the potential larvicidal activity of microalgae (Amphora coffeaeformis and Scenedesmus obliquus) against the mosquito Culex pipiens. Toxicity on rats and an eco-toxicology study using the Microtox® test was performed. Liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that A. coffeaeformis and S. obliquus extracts have high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds and unsaturated fatty acids. Both A. coffeaeformis and S. obliquus extracts had larvicidal activity with different mechanisms of toxic action against C. pipiens and the LC50 was 513.63 and 855.66 μg mL−1 compared with 173.16 μg mL−1 of the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. From toxicological studies on male rats and acute toxicity on bacterial strain of Vibrio fischeri using Microtox toxicity test, the A. coffeaeformis extract can be considered non-toxic to experimental animals and eco-friendly. Therefore, these findings propose the prospect use extracts of microalgae such as A. coffeaeformis as a safe and eco-friendly larvicide against C. pipiens.

The pyrethroid imiprothrin is widely used worldwide for control of insects in the agriculture and public health sectors. No sufficient information is however available concerning detoxification gene expression, i.e., cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and metallothionein 1a gene, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and organ injury induced by imiprothrin in mammals. This study is designed to explain the mechanism of imiprothrin induced detoxification gene expression, DNA damage, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and organ toxicity in male rats. The benchmark dose (BMD) was calculated to find the best sensitive markers to imiprothrin toxicity. Imiprothrin was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into male rats once a day for 5 days with doses of 19, 38, and 75 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.). Imiprothrin caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in treated rats. Significant dose-dependent changes in the liver and kidney biomarkers were observed. Histopathological alterations were seen in the liver and kidney tissue of male rats. Imiprothrin also significantly increased chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronuclei in bone-marrow cells, and induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and liver and kidney dysfunction, and damage. Imiprothrin induced DNA damage and over detoxification gene expression of CYP1A2 and metallothionein 1a gene in hepatocytes of male rats. Imiprothrin thus shows clastogenic and genotoxic potential. The mechanism for hepatorenal toxicity and injury, genotoxicity/cytotoxicity of imiprothrin might be due to enhanced lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress associated with overproduction of free radicals, especially reactive oxygen species, and an imbalance in redox status. From the BMD models, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, uric acid, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and micronuclei (MPEs) were very sensitive markers to imiprothrin toxicity.

Reaction of oxobutenyl- and oxophenylpropenyl-phenylpyrazolones with the active phosphacumulenes, iminovinylidene- and oxovinylidenetriphenylphosphoranes has led to pyranopyrazole and phosphoranylidenepyranopyrazole, respectively. Reaction of the pyrazolones with the stablized phosphonium ylides has resulted in pyrazolodienoates. Reaction of Woolin’s (diselenadiphosphetandiselenides) reagent with the pyrazole derivative substrates has resulted in formation of different phosphorus-selenium heterocyclic pyrazole derivatives such as oxaselenaphosphinin-, selenoxobutenyl-, selenidodiselenaphosphinyl-, and diselenidoselenadiphosphetanylvinyl pyrazoles. The possible reaction mechanism is considered, and structural elucidations are based on spectroscopic data. Antitumor and antioxidant activities of the new compounds have been evaluated. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) for the products is discussed.

The present study is the first report for studying the toxic effects of butralin herbicide on COX2, BAX, and Bcl2 gene expression, oxidative stress, and liver damage in female rats. Female rats were received butralin in drinking water for 28 days at concentration 4.16, 312, and 3120 mg/L that corresponded to the acceptable daily intake (ADI), no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), and 10 NOAEL, respectively. Butralin decreased body weights and increased relative liver weight of female rats exposed to high dose. It caused significant elevation in liver function enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidant enzymes were decreased in liver tissue by increasing the dose. Butralin induced over-expression in the apoptotic related genes including COX2, BAX, and Bcl2 and pathological alteration in the liver of female rats especially at a high dose. It can be concluded that butralin induced oxidative damage and liver injure. The mechanism of damage could be due to generate reactive oxygen species, and increase lipid peroxidation that causes over-expression in the apoptotic related genes including COX2, BAX, and Bcl2. From the Benchmark dose (BMD) approach, there is dose-dependent manner in body weight, AST, ALT, and ALP, and ALT is a very sensitive parameter.

Pyrethroid insecticides are extensively used for control insects in both public health and agriculture sectors. Despite the important role of these insecticides, it caused adverse toxic effects on human, especially at the weanling stage. In this work, the antioxidant activity of chicory and artichoke leaves extracts, and phenolic flavonoid contents were studied. In addition, herbal syrup formulation and hepatoprotective effect against oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and liver damage induced by deltamethrin in weanling male rats were investigated. Both extracts have high phenolic, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity. Deltamethrin reduced body and liver weights of weanling rats. It induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and altered liver function enzymes. It caused a histopathological alteration in liver tissue. Supplementation of herbal syrup improved the above changes via increase body weights, antioxidant enzymes, and decrease lipid peroxidation, and enhanced histopathological profile. It can be concluded that herbal syrup of chicory and artichoke leaves extracts can ameliorate liver damage induced by deltamethrin. Herbal syrup from agriculture wastes of chicory and artichoke leaves is considered an easy, economical, and useful formulation for protecting agriculture workers against the adverse effects induced by pyrethroid insecticides especially in poor rural in developing countries where pyrethroid insecticides are applied for control vector-borne diseases and insects in agriculture.

Pendimethalin (PND) is a dinitroaniline herbicide widely used to control broadleaf and annual grasses. Although the acute oral toxicity of PND is >5 g/kg b.wt. in humans (LD50 for rats >5000 g/kg b.wt.), it has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. It is still used in agriculture so, agricultural workers and their families, as well as consumers, can be exposed to this herbicide. The present study is the first report investigating the dose-response effect using the benchmark dose (BMD) and the adverse effects of exposure to PND at low dose via apoptosis responses linked to the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), FAS, and BAX proteins; oxidative stress; and DNA and liver damage in female rats. The rats were exposed to PND via drinking water at doses equivalent to no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL = 100 mg/kg b.wt.), 200, and 400 mg/kg b.wt. for 28 days. PND caused the overexpression of Tnf-α, Fas, and Bax; increased the levels of serum liver biomarkers; and increased oxidative stress in the liver and erythrocytes. Furthermore, it induced DNA and liver damage in a dose-dependent manner. The BMD showed that serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total antioxidant capacity (78.4 and 30.1 mg/kg b.wt./day, respectively), lipid peroxidation in liver tissue (30.9 mg/kg b.wt./day), catalase in erythrocytes (14.0 mg/kg b.wt./day), and FAS expression in liver tissue (6.89 mg/kg b.wt./day) were highly sensitive biomarkers of PND toxicity. Our findings suggest the generation of reactive oxygen species as a possible mechanism of PND-induced gene overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), FAS, and BAX proteins, oxidative stress, and DNA and liver damage in female rats.

Soil contamination by pesticide residues is a major concern due to their high soil persistence and dangerous effect on humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect and determine the concentration of pesticide residues in agricultural soil samples. Agricultural soil samples were collected from three Egyptian governorates and were extracted using the QuEChERS method and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of twenty different pesticide residues (approximately 43% of the tested pesticides) were detected in agricultural soil samples obtained from the three governorates. South Sinai was heavily contaminated by pesticides, with a total concentration of 0.505 mg/kg, followed by Ismailia (0.207 mg/kg) and North Sinai (0.075 mg/kg). According to its use in agriculture, the percentage of pesticide residues detected revealed that 60% of the pesticides were fungicides and 35% were insecticides. In Ismailia governorate, carbendazim was detected in 40% of agricultural soil samples. In North Sinai governorate, boscalid and chlorpyrifos were detected in 66.66% of the soil samples. In South Sinai governorate, thiophanate-methyl, metalaxyl, and carbendazim were detected in 50% of the soil samples. This study revealed the presence of different pesticide residues in Egyptian agricultural soil samples, which can affect agricultural products grown on contaminated agricultural soil. The accumulation of mixtures of pesticide residues in soil constitutes mostly toxic chemicals that are a worldwide environmental issue that must be considered in the agricultural production sustainability assessment. These results could be used as a base for designing environmental maps to cover the pesticide residue contamination that affects agricultural crops in Egypt.

Pesticides are usually used in agriculture practice for field and post-harvest protection, whereas their prolonged persistence in the environment may lead to high toxicity to humans and animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the detection of different pesticide residues in agricultural soil samples collected from four Egyptian governorates. A total of forty agricultural soil samples were collected during the period from April to June 2020. Samples were extracted using a QuEChERS method and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data revealed that agricultural soil samples from Damietta governorate were highly contaminated (80.00%) by different pesticide residues, followed by Fayoum (40.00%), Menia (36.36%), and Alexandria (10.00%) governorates. The pesticide residues detected in soil samples belonged to the following chemical groups; triazole (21.43%), organophosphate, neonicotinoid, and pyrethroid (10.71%), and others. Among the insecticides detected in soil samples from Damietta governorate were malathion, acetamiprid, and methomyl at concentrations of 10.315, 0.725, and 0.395 mg/kg respectively. The fungicide carbendazim was also detected in soil samples from Damietta governorate at a concentration of 18.303 mg/kg. Meanwhile, in Alexandria governorate, no fungicides were detected in soil samples. The herbicide, oxyfluorfen was detected in soil samples from Menia governorate, whereas pendimethalin and thiobencarb were detected in soil samples from Damietta governorate. Data also revealed that herbicides were not detected in soil samples from both Alexandria and Fayoum governorates. This study shed light on the presence of different pesticide residues in agricultural soil samples in Egypt, and which may affect agricultural products grown on contaminated agricultural soil.

The adverse effects of synthetic acaricides on humans, animals, non-target organisms and the ecosystem are serious problems. Thus, there is a new trend to use nanotechnology for developing new, natural, bio and safe acaricides for mite control in green-pest management. This is the first work for preparing a nanoformulation of rosemary essential oil (EO) and evaluating its effect against the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. GC/MS analysis of rosemary EO showed that 1,8 cineole (31.45%), borneol (11.07%), α-pinene (10.91%), D-limonene (9.19%), L-linalool (8.86%), D-camphor (7.32%), γ-terpinene (3.92%), linalyl acetate (3.37%), α-terpineol (3.32%), and p-cymene (1.82%) were the major components. After 6 min of sonication, a nanoemulsion of rosemary EO was formulated with a droplet size of 139.9 nm. The balance between oil (lyophilic) and surfactant (hydrophilic) was correlated with the droplet size and the stability of the nanoemulsion. Spray application of rosemary nanoemulsion showed high acaricidal activity against immature and adult two-spotted spider mites T. urticae with LC50 723.71 and 865.68 μg · ml−1 and the toxicity increased by 54.15 and 52.69% for immature and adult mites, respectively. There were no toxic effects or mortality of rats treated with rosemary nanoemulsion. High acaricidal activity, stability, and safety of rosemary nanoemulsion make this nanoformulation a possible green and nano-acaricidal product. Further studies under field conditions are necessary to study the acaricidal efficiency of rosemary nanoemulsion against two-spotted spider mites and the toxic effect on predacious mites.

This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of the first reported novel class of pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of sodium 2-cyano-3-oxo-3-(4-substitutedphenylamino)prop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolate) salts 2 with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol at room temperature to give the corresponding sodium 5-amino-4-(substitutedphenylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-thiolates 3a-d. The latter compounds were treated with protected α-D-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides 4a,b in DMF at ambient temperature to give in a high yields the corresponding pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h. Treatment of pyrazole salts 3a-d with hydrochloric acid at amobient temperature afforded the corresponding 3-mercaptopyrazole derivatives 5. The latter compounds were treated with peracetylated sugars 4 in sodium hydride in ethanol at ambient temperature to tolerate the S-glycosyl 6a-h compounds. Ammonolysis of the pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 7a-h. The toxicity and antitumor activities of the synthesized compounds were studied.

Background: Funcionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (ox-MWCNTs) were used for the preparation of therapeutic nanoparticles for delivery of some bioactive compounds. Consequently, this work deals with the preparation of grafted MWCNTs with n-vinyl caprolactam in the presence of pomegranate peel extract (P. granatum), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and/or silver nanoparticeles and their toxic effects on male mice using in vivo biological examination (liver and kidney dysfunction biomarkers) and the histopathological analysis. Methods: P. granatum extract was immobilized onto functionalized MWCNTs using simple adsorption technique. Moreover, The prepared materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM). In vivo examination using liver and kidney dysfunction biomarkers was investigated. In addition, the histopathological study was carried out. Results: The ox-MWCNTs induced significant elevation in the liver enzymes including AST, ALT and ALP relative to the control group. While, the treatment with P. granatum extract only did not induce any change in the liver and kidney biomarkers. In other words, P. granatum extract loaded onto functionalized MWCNTs showed low effects on liver enzymes and kidney function biomarkers in the treated mice in comparison with ox-MWCNTs and extract separately. Moreover, histopathological analysis revealed that the P. granatum extract functionalized MWCNTs exhibited normal renal tissue with no histopathological alteration. Conclusion: The grafted MWCNTs with n-vinyl caprolactam in the presence of pomegranate peel extract (P. granatum), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and/or silver nanoparticeles were successfully prepared. SEM-micrographs showed complete coating of MWCNTs fiber with the extract. The prepared materials resulted in no toxic effects and the histopathological findings were confirmed by inflammation of the liver and kidney tissues.

Synthetic insecticide fipronil (FPN) is widely spread worldwide for controlling insects in agriculture and public health sectors. Thus, this work aimed to study the molecular mechanisms of FPN induced hepatotoxicity and the protective role of fish oil in female rats. Female rats were allocated in four groups of rats exposed to FPN and/or fish oil and control. Oxidative stress markers i.e., lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant enzymes, and liver function enzymes, butyryl cholinesterase (BuChE), histopathological lesions, DNA damage, expression alteration of apoptosis and inflammatory related genes in liver tissues were assessed. FPN treatment induced significant changes in the levels of LPO, liver function, BuChE, histopathological lesions, over-expression of tested genes and elevation in DNA damage. In contrary, treatment of FPN-exposed rats with fish oil improved significantly the negative effects of FPN on liver tissues. The molecular mechanisms of FPN might be due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and change the oxidant/antioxidant statues. The hepatoprotective effect of fish oil might be attributed to increase the antioxidant capacity prevented the ROS generation induced by FPN in female rats.

phosphoramidate, phosphoranylidenetriazene, and azaphosphole derivatives can be respectively formed when the substituted azidocoumarin 1 reacted with trialkylphosphites (TAP), dialkylphosphonates (DAP), and tris(dialkylamino)phosphines. The known triazinedione was revealed to be a side product in the reactions of carbaldehyde 1 with TAP and tris(dialkylamino)-phosphines. In the same context, when the starting coumarin 16 was allowed to react with P (III) reagents, chromen phosphoramidates and chromen phosphoric triamide derivatives were obtained via Staudinger reaction. Contrary to that pathway, phosphoranylidenetriazen chromen derivative could be isolated and identified when coumarin 16 was allowed to react with tris(diethylamino)-phosphine. The antioxidant activities of 6-newly products were evaluated. The results showed that two from the six screened compounds exhibited good antioxidant activities.