ABSTRACT

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus, Penicillium and other genera which contaminate food and exhibit hazardous effects on humans and animals. Aflatoxins (AFs) caused liver necrosis, fibrosis. In the present study, we planned to evaluate the action of bradykinin potentiating factor (BPF) extracted from Egyptian cobra snake venom and synthetic antioxidants; butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and oltipraz (OPZ) on the hepatic tissue of aflatoxicosed rats. Aflatoxicosis caused a significant increase of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA) associated with a significant decrease in the level of total thiols, glutathione (GSH), and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST). In addition to a decrease in the counts of white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MONO), eosinophils (EOS), red blood cells (RBCs) and an increase in neutrophil counts (NEUT) as well as a significant decrease in the gene expression of hepatic interleukin-1β (Il-1β). The previous changes were confirmed by histopathological alterations. Treatment of aflatoxicosed rats with any of BPF, BHT or OPZ resulted in amelioration of the oxidative stress parameters, blood picture and hepatic IL-1β with improvement in histological features. In conclusion, either BPF, BHT or OPZ can be used for the treatment of aflatoxicosis.