Protective effect of Aquilegia vulgaris L. on aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatic damage in rats

Effect of Thunbergia laurifolia leaves on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and liver antioxidant enzymes of broilers fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed

Context Contamination of feedstuff with mixed mycotoxins is one of the frequent problems found in broiler chicken production, especially in tropical countries with a hot and humid climate, such as Thailand. Aims An in vivo study was conducted to examine the effects of Thunbergia laurifolia Linn. (TL) leaves on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant enzyme activity of broiler chicks fed naturally mycotoxin-contaminated feed. Methods In total, 375 1-day-old male Arbor Acre broilers were allotted into five experimental groups, with five replicates each (15 chicks per replicate). The experimental groups were mycotoxin-free basal corn–soybean diet (T1, control), diet with mixed mycotoxins (aflatoxin, fumonisins, tricothecene and ochratoxin, T2), T2 diet but supplemented with 1% (w/w) yeast glucomannan (GM, T3), T2 diet but supplemented with 2% (w/w) TL (T4) and T2 diet but supplemented with both 2% (w/w) TL and 1% (w/w) GM (T5). Feed intake, bodyweight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, nutrient digestibility and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were measured at Days 21 and 42. Key results Broilers in T4 and T5 groups had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher nutrient digestibility than those in the other groups at Day 42, while broilers in the T3, T4 and T5 groups had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher glutathione peroxidase activity than those in the other groups. There was no difference in the growth performance among the groups, except chicks that received the mixed mycotoxin-contaminated feed had a higher feed conversion ratio and ate more feed than did those in the control group. Conclusion It is concluded that 2% TL and 1% GM helped ameliorate the adverse effect of mycotoxin, improving nutrient digestibility and increased the glutathione peroxidase activity, but without a significant change in growth rate. Implications Herbal plant TL can be used as an alternative mycotoxin adsorbent in broiler production.

The effects of diosmin on aflatoxin-induced liver and kidney damage

Aflatoxin is among the natural toxins that cause serious side effects on living things. Diosmin is also one of the compounds with broad pharmacological effects. In this study, the effects on the oxidant/antioxidant system of 50 mg/kg body weight/day dose of diosmin, aflatoxin (500 μg/kg body weight/day), and combined aflatoxin (500 μg/kg body weight/day) plus diosmin (50 mg/kg body weight/day) given to the stomach via catheter female adult Wistar Albino rats is examined. Forty rats were used in the experiment, and these animals were randomly allocated to four equal groups. The test phase lasted 21 days, and blood samples and tissue (liver and kidney) samples were taken after this period was over. Some biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin) and levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and 4-hydroxynonenal and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were analyzed in the samples. The aflatoxin administered over the period indicated a significant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in all tissues and blood samples. Therewithal, the activity of antioxidant enzymes showed a change in the decreasing direction. Biochemical parameters of the group in which aflatoxin were administered alone changed unfavorably. Parallel effects were also observed in the histopathological findings of this group. The results showed that aflatoxin changed antioxidant/oxidant balance in favor of oxidant and eventually led to lipid peroxidation. Diosmin administration to aflatoxin-treated animals resulted in positive changes in antioxidant enzyme activities while the levels of MDA, NO, and 4-HNE were reduced in all tissues and blood samples examined. Diosmin alleviates the oxidative stress caused by aflatoxin. Similar improvement was observed in biochemical parameters of this group as well as in liver and kidney histopathology. No significant change was observed in the group treated with diosmin alone in terms of the parameters examined and histologic findings. As a result, diosmin may be included in compounds that can be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent in the event of the formation of aflatoxin exposure and poisoning in animals.

Protective effects of phenolics rich extract of ginger against Aflatoxin B1-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the predominant mycotoxin contaminant in food and feed, causing oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. Ginger phenolics have been reported for its antioxidant potential and hepatoprotective activity. The present study investigated the protective effects of phenolics rich ginger extract (GE) against AFB1 induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity, in vitro and in vivo. The phenolic acid profiles of GE showed 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol as predominant components. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with GE significantly inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA strand break, and cytotoxicity induced by AFB1. A comparable effect was observed in in vivo. Male Wistar rats were orally treated with GE (100 and 250mg/kg) daily, with the administration of AFB 1 (200μg/kg) every alternative day for 28days. Treatment with GE significantly reduced AFB1 induced toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage. In addition, GE also showed significant hepatoprotective effect by reducing the lipid peroxidation and by enhancing the antioxidant enzymes activities. These results combined with liver histopathological observations indicated that GE has potential protective effect against AFB1 induced hepatotoxicity. Additionally, administration of GE up-regulated Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which further proved the efficiency of GE to inhibit AFB1 induced hepatotoxicity.

Protective effect of Aquilegia vulgaris (L.) against lead acetate-induced oxidative stress in rats

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity. The current study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of Aquilegia vulgaris (L.) against lead acetate (LA)-induced oxidative stress in male rats. Tested animals were treated orally with A. vulgaris extract (100 ppm) in combination with, before, or after LA treatment (20 ppm). The results indicated that the extract alone did not induce any significant changes in body weight gain, food intake, serum biochemical chemistry or the histological picture of the liver and kidney. However, it increased significantly the level of Glutathione (GSH). On the other hand, LA decreased food intake, body weight gain and induced oxidative stress as indicated by the significant changes in serum biochemical parameters and histological picture of liver and kidney and increased lipid peroxide and reduces GSH levels in liver tissues. The extract succeeded to improve the histological pictures of liver and kidney and the biochemical parameters towards the normal values of the control. Moreover, this improvement was pronounced in the animals treated with the extract after LA intoxication.