Zizyphus spina-Christi Extract Protects Against Aflatoxin B1- Intitiated Hepatic Carcinogenicity

Aflatoxins (AF), a group of closely related, extremely toxic mycotoxins, produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus can occur as natural contaminants of foods and feeds. Aflatoxins have been shown to be hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic to different animal species. Zizyphus spina-Christi L. extract was investigated for its antifungal and antimicrobial activities. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Z. spina-Christi L. leaves against the oxidative stress of aflatoxin in rats. Fourty male Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups including the control group, the group fed aflatoxin-contaminated diet (3 mg/kg diet) and the groups treated with Zizyphus extract (5 mg/kg b.w) alone or in combination with AF for 15 days. Biochemical analysis reveled that treatment with AF resulted in a significant increase in ALT, AST, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, TNFa, LPO, NO and CEA, whereas it decrease significantly GPX and SOD. The histopatholgical examination of the liver, kidney and testis showed sever histological changes typical to those reported for aflatoxicosis. Animals treated with Zizyphus extract alone or plus AF showed a significant improvement in all biochemical parameters and histological picture of liver, kidney and testis. It could be concluded that Zizyphus extract have a power protective role against aflatoxicosis. Keywords: Aflatoxin, antioxidant, hepatotoxicity, Zizyphus spina-Christi, African Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 4 (3) 2007: pp. 248-25