Background: Strox is an Egyptian version of spic. It is a mixture of several substances sprayed on the plant to enhance its effect. This study aimed to assess the histopathological and biochemical effects of Strox after acute and chronic exposure by an experimental study.
Methods: Eighty adult male Wistar rats were classified into four groups; negative and positive control groups, an acute toxicity group subdivided into 3 groups that received 1/3, 2/3, and LD50 respectively, and a chronic (dependence) group. The biochemical analysis included ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine, total CPK, CK-MB, and troponin in addition to histopathological examination of the cerebellum, heart, lung, liver, and kidney.
Results: There was a significant increase in AST, ALT, total CPK, and CPK-MB in the dependence group. There was a great affection for hepatocytes in both acute and chronic groups up to the loss of hepatocytes. Cardiac muscles showed necrosis and fragmentation in both groups. The kidney showed renal tubular necrosis in both groups. Cerebellum showed distortion and a decrease in the number of stellate, basket, and Purkinje cells in both groups. The lung showed thickened alveolar septa with inflammatory cells and hemorrhage in all experimental groups.
Conclusion: The study concluded that acute and chronic Strox toxicity induced profound histopathological changes in the heart, lung, liver, cerebellum, and kidney. These changes were further confirmed by the altered biochemical tests in the chronic group.