الفهرس 
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Abstract
Pesticide and herbicide overuses are a major environmental and health hazard on a global scale. Synthetic triazine herbicide atrazine is frequently used to manage various weed species in crops. It seriously harms soil and aquatic habitats, though. This study illustrates how atrazine can harm the liver. Because atrazine has a stable structure, a difficult time degrading, a lengthy residence duration in the environment, and toxicity to both organisms and people, the research of its removal from the environment is very important. The liver, which is the primary organ in charge of atrazine metabolism, has a history of being harmed by atrazine. In the liver tissue, it results in oxidative damage, inflammation, and apoptosis.
The goal of the current study was to determine whether the antioxidant capabilities of ZnO NPs and Ascorbic acid could protect against the hepatotoxic effects of atrazine.
The study involved sixty adult albino rats, which were divided into six groups of ten rats each:
1. Control group: Rats received 0.5 ml of distilled water.
2. Atrazine group (ATZ group): Rats were given atrazine (300 mg/kg) for 21 days.
3. Zinc oxide nanoparticles group (ZnO-NPs): Rats were given ZnO-NPs (10 mg/kg) for 30 days.
4. ATZ + ZnO NPs group: Rats received both atrazine (300 mg/kg) for 21 days and ZnO-NPs (10 mg/kg) for 30 days.
5. Vitamin C group: Rats were given vitamin C (200 mg/kg) for 30 days.
6. ATZ + Vitamin C group: Rats received both atrazine (300 mg/kg) for 21 days and vitamin C (200 mg/kg) for 30 days.
The rats were observed for general behavior, toxicity signs, death, and weekly changes in body weights throughout the experiment.
The serum liver function tests (ALT, AST, TP, and Albumin) were collected for biochemical examination of blood samples at the conclusion of the experiment. Furthermore, liver tissues were gathered to measure the concentrations of oxidative stress markers (MDA and GSH) in liver homogenate. Real-time PCR was used to detect the molecular levels of TNF-, NF-B, BAX, Bcl2, Caspase3, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and CYP2E1 in the liver tissues. Hematoxylin and eosin stain (H & E) and the Periodic acid-Schiff procedure (PAS) were used to produce and stain the liver slices for histological analysis. Results were recorded in 6 tables and 19 figures. The obtained data were analyzed statistically and revealed the following results:
ATZ significantly reduced the amounts of albumin, globulins, and total proteins in the serum while boosting the activity of the ALT and AST enzymes.
Additionally, the liver’s levels of MDA, GSH, TNF-, and NF-KB expression all changed significantly as a result of atrazine administration. Additionally, it markedly lowered the expression levels of BCL-2 while dramatically raising those of BAX and Caspase-3. ATZ treatment also caused modifications in the expression levels of CYP-1A1, CYP-1B1, and CYP-2E1.
The amelioration of the previously mentioned measures, as well as enhancements in antioxidant activity and liver function and structure, were detected as the protective effects of either ZnO NPs or ascorbic acid.
H&E-stained liver slices from the ATZ group showed disorganized hepatic tissue as well as an accumulation and proliferation of fibrous tissue. ZnO-NPs and vitamin C, however, may be able to enhance hepatic structures. The Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction showed that PAS stain to ATZ only had a very mild reactivity. While vitamin C displayed a poor to moderate sensitivity to the PAS stain, ZnO-NPs displayed a moderate to strong response.
Conclusion and recommendations
The structure and function of the liver were significantly altered by ATZ exposure. ATZ-induced oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic mechanisms are shown by the significantly altered levels of inflammatory indices, apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene expressions, and oxidative markers, as well as by the indicators of hepatic dysfunction. However, the liver damage was reduced by ZnO NPs and Vitamin C. caused by ATZ through the strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic responses, and the regulation of hepatic CYP450s/ROS pathway. Supplementation with ZnO NPs and Vitamin C for 30 days might be beneficial in improving some of these altered biochemical and histological variables. Antioxidant supplements may be an excellent prevention strategy for many diseases, these antioxidants may be easily merged into the diet or could be co-supplemented.
More researches are needed for further investigation on the different mechanisms of atrazine action on different organs using different protective antioxidant agents.