Effect of Ascorbic Acid in the Detoxification of the Insecticide Dimethoate in the Bone Marrow Erythrocytes of Mice

The antimutagenic potential of ascorbic acid in the detoxification of the organophosphorus insecticide dimethoate was evaluated in female Swiss albino mice using the in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test. Groups of three mice were treated with distilled water (control), 1% dimethyl sulphoxide (solvent control), or 86, 129.5 or 259 mg ascorbic acid/kg body weight, with or without the concurrent administration of 150 mg dimethoate/kg. There was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in dimethoate-treated mice. However, in mice that were given dimethoate and ascorbic acid simultaneously, the numbers of micronuclei did not differ significantly from control values, thus indicating the protective role of ascorbic acid.