Osajin attenuates diazinon-induced pulmonary toxicity in rats.
Bozkurt İ, Şenocak EA, Karaarslan T, Alat Ö, Gür C
Medicinal Plants
Diazinon, the same pesticide class sprayed on lawns, orchards, and livestock, drifts into the air you breathe while gardening — and a fruit-bearing hedge tree in your own yard may hold compounds that counter that damage.
Diazinon is a widely used bug-killing chemical that can harm lungs when absorbed by the body. Researchers tested whether osajin — a natural compound from the spiky green fruit of the Osage orange tree — could protect rats' lungs from this damage. They found it helped quite a bit at higher doses, reducing swelling, cell death, and chemical stress in lung tissue, though it didn't fix everything completely.
Key Findings
Diazinon at 20 mg/kg for 28 days caused measurable lung damage: elevated MDA (lipid peroxidation marker), suppressed antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD), and activated inflammatory genes including NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β.
Osajin at 200 mg/kg substantially restored redox balance and reduced inflammatory and apoptotic signaling, though it showed less efficacy against IL-6 and mature IL-1β specifically.
Histopathology confirmed dose-dependent protection: the 200 mg/kg osajin dose significantly reduced alveolar disruption, leukocyte infiltration, hemorrhage, and tissue degeneration compared to diazinon-only animals.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A plant compound called osajin, extracted from the Osage orange tree, reduced lung damage caused by diazinon, a common pesticide used in agriculture and veterinary products. In rat studies, osajin lowered inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in lung tissue — though it did not fully reverse the damage.
Abstract Preview
Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide whose widespread agricultural and veterinary use raises continuing concerns about non-target organ toxicity. While its hepatic and neurological effe...
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Maclura pomifera, commonly known as the Osage orange, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, native to the south-central United States. It is a member of the mulberry family, Moraceae. It typically grows about 8 to 15 m (30–50 ft) tall. The distinctive multiple fruit resembles an immature oran...