Combined toxic effects of aflatoxin B2 and the protective role of resveratrol in Swiss albino mice

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Gündüz, Alperen, Yalçın, Emine, Çavuşoğlu, Kültiğin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 10.09.2021; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Aflatoxins; Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Albinism; Aspartate aminotransferase; Body weight; Bone marrow; Chromosome aberrations; Creatinine; Cytogenetics; Drinking water; Epithelium; Erythrocytes; Glutathione; Hydrogen peroxide; Kidneys; Liver; Malondialdehyde; Physiology; Resveratrol; Superoxide; Toxicity; Transaminase; Urea
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95879-7

Abstract In this study, the toxic effects of aflatoxin B 2 (AFB 2 ) on Swiss albino mice and the protective effects of resveratrol were investigated. Physiological (body weight, liver and kidney weight), biochemical (aspartate aminotransferase-AST, alanine transaminase-ALT, blood urea nitrogen-BUN, creatinine, malondialdehyde-MDA and glutathione-GSH) and cytogenetic parameters (micronucleus-MN in buccal epithelium, erythrocyte and leukocyte cells and chromosomal aberrations-CAs) were used to determine the toxic effects. Additionally, scavenging effects of resveratrol against superoxide, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals were also investigated. In experimental period, mice were divided into six groups and the groups were treated with tap water, 10 mg/kg b.w resveratrol, 20 mg/kg b.w resveratrol, 20 µg/kg b.w. AFB 2 , 10 mg/kg b.w resveratrol + 20 µg/kg b.w AFB 2 , 20 mg/kg b.w resveratrol + 20 µg/kg b.w AFB 2 , respectively. As a result, the scavenging effects of resveratrol increased with increasing dose and the superoxide, H 2 O 2 and DPPH radical scavenging activity of resveratrol were 74.9%, 79.1% and 49.2%, respectively. AFB 2 administration caused a significant decrease in physiological parameters, and these decreases regressed in AFB 2  + resveratrol treated groups. Serum ALT and AST activities, BUN and creatinine levels were higher in the AFB 2 treated group compared to the control group and serious abnormalities were found in MDA and GSH levels in the kidney and liver. In the group treated with AFB 2  + 20 mg/kg resveratrol, ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine levels decreased significantly and GSH levels increased compared to only-AFB 2 treated group. AFB 2 triggered MN formation in buccal epithelium, erythrocyte and leukocyte cells and CAs in bone marrow cells. The application of 20 mg/kg resveratrol together with AFB 2 was decreased the MN and CAs frequency. Resveratrol exhibited a recovery effect in the range of 40.9–80.5% against AFB 2 toxicity in all tested parameters. In this study, it was determined that AFB 2 caused serious changes in selected physiological, biochemical and cytogenetic parameters while resveratrol displayed a protective role against these toxic effects.