In the present study, the effects of thyme supplementation on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in
chronic intoxicated rats with organophosphorous pesticides have been evaluated. This study was carried out
on 60 male rats. The rats were divided into four equal groups. 1) Normal group (N): received no drugs. 2)
POM group (P): received single oral dose of POM (50 mg/ Kg b.w) daily for 3 months. 3) Thyme group
(Thy): received single dose of Thyme per os (45 mg/ Kg b.w) daily for 3 months. 4) Thyme + POM group
(Thy + P): received single dose of POM (50 mg/ Kg b.w) + Thyme (45 mg/ Kg b.w) per os daily for 3
months. Blood and brain samples were collected from all animal groups three times at one, two and three
months from the onset of experiment and used for determination of antioxidant enzyme activities, nonenzymatic
antioxidant (GSH and Ceruloplasmin) and free radicals (MDA and NO). Moreover, AChE
activity in erythrocytes and brain were also determined. Pirimiphos methyl induced a significant decrease
in antioxidant enzyme activities and erythrocytes and brain AChE. In addition, marked depletion in
erythrocytes and brain GSH, were observed. Moreover, administration of Pirimiphos methyl exhibited a
significant increase in serum ceruloplasmin and erythrocytes SOD and serum GGT activities in addition to
a marked increase in erythrocytes and brain MDA and serum NO levels. While administration of thyme to
rats received, oral dose of POM exhibited a significant increase in antioxidant activities, GSH,
ceruloplasmin and a marked decrease in erythrocytes and brain MDA and serum NO. These results
concluded that, thyme constitutes a powerful antioxidant property that was able to improve the adverse
biochemical changes induced by organophosphorous compounds that are widely in our country.