Combined toxic effects of aflatoxin B(2) and the protective role of resveratrol in Swiss albino mice

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.