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This study aimed to identify the bioactive compounds of the ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus niger SH2-EGY using GC-MS and to evaluate their protective role against aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1)-induced oxidative stress, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in rats. Six groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally for 4 weeks included the control group, AFB 1 -treated group (80 μg/kg b.w); fungal extract (FE)-treated groups at low (140) or high dose (280) mg/kg b.w and the groups treated with AFB 1 plus FE at the two tested doses. The GC-MS analysis identified 26 compounds. The major compounds found were 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-trimethylsilyl Glucopyranose, Fmoc-L-3-(2-Naphthyl)-alanine, D-(-)-Fructopyranose, pentakis (trimethylsilyl) ether, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, trimethylsilyl ether-glucitol, and octadecanamide, N-(2- methylpropyl)-N-nitroso. The in vivo results showed that AFB 1 significantly increased serum ALT, AST, creatinine, uric acid, urea, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, interleukin-6, Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, Bax, caspase-3 and P53 mRNA expression, chromosomal aberrations and DNA fragmentation. It decreased serum TP, albumin, HDL, Bcl-2 mRNA expression, hepatic and renal TAC, SOD and GPx content and induced histological changes in the liver and kidney. FE prevented these disturbances in a dosage-dependent manner. It could be concluded that A. niger SH2-EGY extract is safe a promising agent for pharmaceutical and food industries. • Endophytic fungi are a rich source of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites. • Twenty six bioactive compounds were isolated from Aspergillus niger SH2-EGY extract. • The extract prevent oxidative stress, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1. • The extract was safe and effective at a dose as high as 280 mg/kg body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a Fusarium mycotoxin that frequently contaminates cereal and cereal-based food and induces liver injury. This study evaluated the protective role of silymarin nanoparticles (SILNPs) and inulin nanoparticles (INNPs) against DON-induced liver injury in rats. Eleven groups of rats were treated orally for 3 weeks as follows: the control group, DON-treated group (5 mg/kg b.w.); INNPs-treated groups at low (LD) or high (HD) dose (100 or 200 mg/kg b.w.); SILPNs-treated group (50 mg/kg b.w.); SILNPs plus INNPs(LD) or INNPs(HD)-treated groups; INNPs(LD) or INNPs(HD) plus DON-treated groups and DON plus SILNPs and INNPs(LD) or INNPs(HD)-treated groups. Blood and tissue samples were collected for different analyses. The results revealed that the practical sizes were 200 and 98 nm for SILNPs and INNPs respectively. DON increased liver enzymes activity, lipid profile, serum cytokines, number and percentage of chromosomal aberration, DNA fragmentation and comet score. It disturbed the oxidative stress markers, down regulated gene expression and induced histological changes in the liver tissue. Treatment with DON and SILNPs and/or INNPs at the two tested doses improved all the tested parameters and SILNPs plus INNPs(HD) normalized most of these parameters in DON-treated animals. SILNPs and INNPs could be promising candidates as hepatoprotective against DON or other hepatotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to evaluate the protective role of curcumin nanoparticles loaded hydrogels (Cur-NPs-Hgs) against AFB 1 -induced genotoxicity in rat liver. Animals were divided into 7 treatment groups and treated orally for 3 weeks as follow: the control group, the group treated with Hgs alone (0.5 ml/rat), the groups treated with low or high dose of Cur-NPs-Hgs (100 or 200 mg/kg b.w), the group treated with AFB 1 (0.125 mg/kg b.w) and the groups treated with AFB 1 plus the low or high dose of Cur-NPs-Hgs. Blood ant liver samples were collected for different biochemical, genetical, histological and histochemical analysis. The results revealed that the prepared Cur-NPs have nearly spherical shape with average size of 140 ± 20 nm and negative zeta potential value of 30.7 ± 2.57 mV. The in vivo results showed that treatment with AFB 1 decreased the body weight accompanied biochemical, genotoxicity and histological disturbances. The combined treatment with AFB 1 and Cur-Nps-Hgs at the two tested doses succeeded to induce a significant protection against AFB 1 . It could be concluded that Cur-NPs-Hgs is a promise candidate to protect against AFB 1 -induce liver damage in the high incidence area. Moreover, Hgs are excellent candidates as drug delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of the most commonly used perfluorinated compounds. Being a persistent environmental pollutant, it can accumulate in human tissues via various exposure routes. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective role of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) against PFOA-induced toxicity at the genetic and protein levels in Nile tilapia using the biochemistry analysis, SDS–PAGE electrophoresis, comet assay and RFLP–PCR methods. The results indicated that exposure to PFOA in water (30 mg/L) for 30 days resulted in a significant increase in ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine accompanied with a significant decrease in total protein and albumin. PFOA also increased DNA damage in electrophoresis condition and induced DNA and protein polymorphic band in comparison to control fish. CMC alone at 1% and 2% (W/W) in fish diets did not induce any alterations in the biochemical parameters, DNA or protein levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, CMC succeeded to decrease the toxicity of PFOA in a dose dependent manner. It could be concluded that PFOA induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in fish similar to those reported in mammals. CMC is a promising candidate and has a protective effect against-PFOA induced in vivo DNA damage and protein alteration in Nile tilapia. This effect might be attributable to its ability to decrease intracellular ROS and its antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to prepare and characterize activated carbon (AC) and to evaluate its protective effect against deoxynivalenol (DON) toxicity in rats compared to Egyptian montmorillonite (EM). AC was prepared using a single-step chemical activation with phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ). The resulted AC has a high surface area and a high total pore volume. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 10) and treated for 3 weeks as follow: the control group, the groups fed AC or EM-supplemented diet (0.5% w/w), the group treated orally with DON (5 mg/kg b.w.) and the groups fed AC or EM-supplemented diet and treated with DON. Blood and liver samples were collected for different analyses. Treatment with DON increased liver function enzymes, lipid peroxidation, tumor necrosis factor α, DNA fragmentation, decreased hepatic glutathione content, up regulating mRNA Fas and TNF-α genes expression and increased micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and normochromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow. Co-treatment of DON plus AC or EM succeeded to normalize the levels of the biochemical parameters, reduced the cytotoxicity of bone marrow and ameliorated the hepatic genotoxicity. Moreover, AC was more effective than EM and has a high affinity to adsorb DON and to reduce its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential element and is a widespread environmental pollutant. Exposure to cadmium can result in cytotoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The aim of the current work was to evaluate the protective effect of Aquilegia vulgaris extract against the oxidative stress and the genotoxicity induced by Cd using the chromosomal aberrations in somatic and germ cells assay and random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD-PCR) analysis. Forty male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups including the control group, Cd-treated group and the groups treated with the extract alone or plus Cd. The results indicated that Cd increased serum ALT, AST, urea, LDH, CK, lipid peroxidation in liver tissue accompanied with a significant decrease in GPX and SOD. Cd also increased the number of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and spermatocytes including structural and numerical aberrations. Animals treated with the extract alone were comparable to the control regarding all the tested parameters. The extract succeeded in preventing or diminishing the oxidative stress and the clastogenic effects of Cd. It could be concluded that Aquilegia vulgaris extract is a promising protective agent against oxidative stress and genotoxicity during the exposure to Cd. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to determine the bioactive compounds of Bacillus sp. MERNA97 extract and to evaluate their efficacy against the oxidative damage, genotoxicity, chromosomal aberration and DNA fragmentation in rats treated with AFB 1. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups and treated for 6 weeks and included the control group, AFB 1 -treated group (80 μg/kg b. w), the groups treated with Bacillus extract (BE) at low (2 mg/kg b.w) or high (4 mg/kg b.w) dose and the groups treated with AFB 1 plus BE at the two doses. Blood and tissues samples were collected for different assays. The GC-MS results revealed the isolation of 44 compounds belong to different classes. The in vivo results showed that AFB 1 disturbs all the biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, cytokines gene expression chromosomal aberration and DNA fragmentation along with the histological changes in the liver tissue. BE at the two tested doses induced a significant improvement in all parameters tested and the histological picture in a dose dependent manner. It could be concluded that the extract of Bacillus sp. MERNA97 isolated from the marine environment in the Red Sea is a promise as a source of novel compounds with therapeutically benefits. • AFB1 in food and feed is well known hepato carcinogens to human and animals. • Bacillus species are able to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. • We identified 44 compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of Bacillus. • Bacillus extract showed a potential hepato protective role against AFB1. • This protection was dose dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin that induces severe health disturbances in humans and animals. This study aimed to determine the bioactive compounds in Costus speciosus extract (CSE) using GC-MS and evaluate its protective capability against ZEN-induced oxidative damage, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity in rats. Six groups of male Sprague Dawley rats were treated orally for 15 days including the control group, CSE-treated groups at low (200 mg/kg b. w) or high (400 mg/kg b. w) dose, ZEN-treated group (40 μg/kg b. w), and the groups treated with ZEN plus the low or the high dose of CSE. Blood and tissue samples were collected for different assays and pathological analyses. The results of GC-MS indicated the identification of 6 compounds and Azulene was the major. Animals that received ZEN showed severe disturbances in serum biochemical, cytokines, oxidative stress indicators, mRNA expression of iNOS, Nrf2, and inflammatory-related genes. ZEN also increased micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) and comet tail formation in bone marrow cells along with the disturbances in the histological architecture of the liver and kidney. Co-administration of CSE plus ZEN could normalize the majority of the tested parameters and the histological picture at a dose as low as 200 mg/kg b. w. Therefore, CSE protects against ZEN toxicity via its antioxidant activity, modulation of iNOS, inflammatory-related genes, and the Nrf2 pathway and it could be used in the endemic regions. [Display omitted] • Zearalenone (ZEN) induced oxidative damage, disturbs inflammatory cytokine, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in rats. • Six bioactive compounds were isolated from Costus speciosus extract (CSE) and Azulene was the major compound. • CSE alleviated ZEN-induce oxidative damage in a dose-depended fashion and may be used in the area endemic with ZEN. • Costus speciosus extract modulates the cytokines, Nrf2 and iNOS mRNA gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The use of nitrofurans as veterinary drugs has been banned in the EU since 1993 due to doubts on the safety of the protein-bound residues of these drugs in edible products. Furazolidone (FUZ) is a nitrofuran drug, which has been used for many years as an antibacterial drug in veterinary practice. The aim of the current study is to investigate the role of l-cysteine and l-methionine in the protection against hormonal imbalance and the genotoxicity induced by FUZ using the micronucleus (MN) assay and random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD–PCR) analysis in female rats. Forty female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups included the untreated control group; a group treated with FUZ (300mg/kg b.w.); a group treated with a mixture of l-cysteine (300mg/kg b.w.) and l-methionine (42.8mg/kg b.w.) and a group treated with FUZ plus the mixture of l-cysteine and l-methionine for 10 days. The results indicated that FUZ induced hormonal disturbances involving thyroid, ovarian and adrenal hormones. Moreover, FUZ increased the micronucleus formation and induced changes in polymorphic band patterns. The combined treatment with FUZ and the mixture of l-cysteine and l-methionine succeeded to prevent or diminish the endocrine disturbance and the clastogenic effects of FUZ. The current study is casting new light on the complex mechanisms underlying the ameliorating action of dietary l-cysteine and l-methionine against FUZ toxicity in experimental animals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • 8% of Zearalenone (ZEN) LD50 is able to induce micronuclei and chromosome aberrations in bone morrow cells of Mice after 2 weeks of treatment. • ZEN was increased DNA fragmentation, the expression of Bcl-2, and their target proteins, and down regulated caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax. • Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 protects mice against ZEN-cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation, genes expression and target proteins content damage. • Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 was safe and haven't any hidden risk and can be a good candidate in the ZEN detoxification technology. Abstract Zearalenone (ZEN) is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Fusarium species. No treatment has been successfully employed to get rid against ZEN contained in foods and/or mitigates its genotoxicity. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of lactic acid bacteria, isolated from Tunisia traditional butter, Lactobacillus plantarum MON03 (LP) to protect mice against cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by ZEN. Two doses of LP (2 × 109 CFU/L, ∼2 mg/kg and 4 × 109 CFU/L, ∼4 mg/kg) was added alone or in combination with a toxic intragastric ZEN (40 mg/kg representing 8% of LD 50) dose daily for 2 wk by oral gavage. The control group received distilled water. The positive control groups received Colchicin (4 mg/kg bw) for the micronucleus assay and mitomycin C (1 mg/kg bw) for the chromosome aberrations assay. 48 h after treatment, the small intestines, femur and tibia are dissected out. Small intestines were collected for the determination of DNA fragmentation, genes expression and target proteins content. The results show that ZEN was cytotoxic and genotoxic to mice as indicated by the increase in frequencies of polychromatic erythrocytes micronucleated (PCEMN) and chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells. In the small intestine ZEN was increased DNA fragmentation, down regulated the expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax as well as up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and their target proteins. The simultaneous intragastric administration of LP with ZEN resulted in a decrease of PCEMN number and chromosomal aberrations frequency and in an increase of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) in bone marrow cells compared with the group treated with ZEN alone. In addition, LP succeeded to alleviate the disturbances in DNA fragmentation and the expression of these genes and their target proteins. It could be concluded that the use of LP induced protective effects against genotoxicity of ZEN in part through adhesion and so likely diminished its bio-availability in gastro-intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) is common carcinogen causing acute and chronic hepatocyte injuries. This study aimed to determine the bioactive components of Teucrium polium methanolic extract (TPE) and to evaluate their protective role against AFB 1 -induced oxidative damage, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in rats. Six groups of male albino rats were treated orally for 4 weeks including the control group, the ِAFB 1 -treated group (80 μg/kg b.w.), the groups treated with low (LD) or high (HD) dose TPE (50 or 100 mg/kg b.w.), and the groups treated with AFB 1 plus TEP (LD) or TPE (HD). Blood and serum samples were collected for different assays. The GC-MS identified 34 compounds, the major compounds were pinene, germacrene D, α-cadinol, α-thujene, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, and limonene. Animals that received AFB 1 showed significant changes in all indicators of oxidative stress, biochemistry, cytokines, MNPCEs, comet tail formation in bone marrow, mRNA expression of inflammatory-related genes, Nrf2, and iNOS beside histological changes in the liver. TPE at the two doses tested showed insignificant changes in all tested parameters. The extract could normalize most of these parameters and the hepatic structure in AFB 1 -treated animals in a dose-dependent fashion. therefore, we concluded that TPE supplementation is effective for protection against AFB 1 in endemic areas. [Display omitted] • Aflatoxin B1 induced oxidative damage, disturbs serum biochemistry, and lipid profile • Aflatoxin B1 also disturbs serum cytokines and pro-inflammatory gene expression • The Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 34 bioactive compounds in Teucrium polium extract • Teucrium polium induced potential protection against Aflatoxin B1 in a dose-dependent fashion • Teucrium polium is promising candidate against Aflatoxin B1 toxicity in endemic areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the disturbances in intestinal genes expression and DNA fragmentation in mice treated orally with aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) or aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1 ) and the protective activity of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP). Male Balb/c mice were divided into 6 groups including the control group, the group treated with 2 mg/kg b.w of LP (2 × 10 9  cfu/mL), the groups treated with AFB 1 or AFM 1 (100 μg/kg b.w), and the groups treated with AFB 1 or AFM 1 during, after or before LP. Small intestines were collected for the determination of DNA fragmentation, gene expression and target protein content. The results showed that AFB 1 or AFM 1 increased DNA fragmentation, down regulated the expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9, CYP3A13, Bax and p53 as well as up-regulated the expression of TNF-α and Bcl-2 and their target proteins. LP succeeded to alleviate the disturbances in DNA fragmentation and the expression of these genes. The improvement was more pronounced in the group co-administered with the toxins plus LP. It could be concluded that AFB 1 and AFM 1 induced disturbances in intestinal function via the disturbances in DNA fragmentation and genes expression. LP induced a potential protective effect and is considered a promising agent against the genotoxicity induced by these mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]