Ascorbic Acid Protects Guinea Pigs from Acute Aflatoxin Toxicity

• Published in: Toxicology and applied pharmacology Vol. 143; no. 2; pp. 429 - 435
• Main Authors: Netke, Shrirang P., Roomi, M.Waheed, Tsao, Constance, Niedzwiecki, Aleksandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.04.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: ACIDE ASCORBIQUE; ACIDO ASCORBICO; ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; Administration, Oral; AFLATOXIN B1; Aflatoxin B1 - administration & dosage; Aflatoxin B1 - toxicity; AFLATOXINAS; AFLATOXINE; AFLATOXINS; ALANINA AMINOTRANSFERASA; ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Animals; APPLICATION METHODS; ASCORBIC ACID; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; ASPARTATO AMINOTRANSFERASA; Biological and medical sciences; BLOOD SERUM; Carcinogens - administration & dosage; Carcinogens - toxicity; CITOCROMO P450; CITOCROMOS; COBAYA; COBAYE; CYTOCHROME; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism; CYTOCHROME P450; CYTOCHROMES; Drug Interactions; ENZYMIC ACTIVITY; FOIE; Glutathione - metabolism; GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASE; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; GUINEA PIGS; HIGADO; HISTOPATHOLOGIE; HISTOPATHOLOGY; HISTOPATOLOGIA; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Lethal Dose 50; LIVER; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - blood; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - chemically induced; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - mortality; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - prevention & control; Male; Medical sciences; METHODE D'APPLICATION; METODOS DE APLICACION; Microsomes, Liver - enzymology; NECROSE; NECROSIS; ORAL ADMINISTRATION; Plant poisons toxicology; PROTECTION; SERUM SANGUIN; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - pathology; SUERO SANGUINEO; Survival Rate; TOXICIDAD; TOXICITE; TOXICITY; Toxicology; TRANSFERASAS; TRANSFERASE; TRANSFERASES; Intraperitoneal administration; Ascorbic acid; Toxicity; Rodentia; Mycotoxin; Vitamin; Oral administration; Route of administration; Dose activity relation; Prevention; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Guinea pig; Histopathology; Animal; Aflatoxin B1
• ISSN: 0041-008X; 1096-0333
• DOI: 10.1006/taap.1996.8091

These studies were conducted to investigate whether ascorbic acid protected guinea pigs from aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity. Young guinea pigs, fed either 0 (AA) or 25 mg (25 AA) or gavaged 300 mg ascorbic acid (300 AA) per day for 21 days, were gavaged with the LD50 dose of AFB1on the 22nd day. Seven out of 10 animals in the AA group died within 72 hr of AFB1administration. The livers of the animals showed regional massive necrosis and multilobular degeneration. There was no mortality in the 25 AA group. Their livers, however, showed changes similar to those seen in AA group. Serum alanine amino transferase (ALAT) and aspartate amino transferase (ASAT) levels were elevated. There was neither mortality nor pathological changes in livers in the 300 AA group. Their ALAT and ASAT levels were unaffected.In vitroproduction of AFM1by liver microsomes tended to be higher than that in the other two groups. Three animals saved from the 300 AA group and continued with their supplementation were administered a second, intraperitoneal (ip) LD50 dose of AFB11 month after the first AFB1dose. One animal died. Livers of the animals showed centrilobular degeneration and moderate necrosis in scattered hepatocytes. Liver microsomal cytochrome P450 and cytosolic glutathioneS-transferase (GST) levels and AFM1production were drastically reduced. ALAT and ASAT activities were raised. The results indicated that intake of 300 mg of ascorbic acid almost protected the animals from acute toxicity of AFB1when given by gavage, but not when administered as a second dose ip.