Pyrethroids insectecides, permethrin(PM) and cypermethrin (CM) are used on a large scale in
many agricultural protection programs and may cause hazards for animal and human health. The
aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of these pyrethroids on male albino
rats in two foldes ; oxidative stress and antioxidant defence dysfunction. Rats received 1/60
LD50 of PM (20.83 mg/kg b. wt., orally/ day, for 30 days) and CM (8.33 mg/kg b. wt., orally/
day, for 30 days).Our results showed that serum hepatic function biomarkars, alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes, recorded a highly
significant (P < 0.001) elevation in both PM and CM treated groups. Various anti-oxidants;
reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide
dismutase enzymes, recorded highly significant (P < 0.001) reductions with both PM and CM
treatment. On the other hand, oxidative stress markers; xanthine oxidase (XO), lipid
peroxidation (LPO) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) elevated in treated
animals with PM or CM. In general, it is clear from our data that, CM is more effective than
PM. This may be expected with considering the presence of an alpha-cyno substituent in CM
structure which can potentaite its toxicity.