The diminution of sterygmatocystin toxicity by the antiradical action of some flavonoid- containing plant products

Abstract

Sterigmatocystin is a bifuran mycotoxin, structurally related to aflatoxins, which has a high incidence in plant products from the temperate-continental zone. The present study is part of a more ample experiment that deals with the reduction of this mycotoxin toxicity, which has been included in the first degree carcinogenic category. Taking into account the hypothesis that sterigmatocystin behaves as a free radical coming from epoxysterigmatocystin, the experiment pointed out the use of some pharmaceutical preparations containing Hippophäe rhamnoides. The experiment included four groups of five white rats, each. The first group was the control one, while the second one served for the experimental reproduction of chronic sterigmatocystin intoxication. Besides the sterigmatocystin dose, the animals from the third group were given ascorbic acid, a non-enzymatic antioxidant. The fourth group was treated with Hippophäe fructus, along with the sterigmatocystin dose. The animals were then slaughtered, and the blood was used for biochemical investigations with important relevance upon the hepatic function and integrity. The investigated hepatic cytolysis indices, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase from blood samples emphasized a significant improvement of the liver integrity for the group of animals treated with Hippophäe fructus. The results obtained for the biochemical parameters accountable for the liver proteosynthetic capacity (acetyl cholinesterase and total protein) did not suggest an efficient protective effect of the investigated plant preparation. Plant preparations containing Hipophäe rhamnoides exerted a positive effect on liver integrity, while its benefits on the proteosynthetic function of the liver were insignificant.