Caffeic acid protects against DNA damage, oxidative and inflammatory mediated toxicities, and upregulated caspases activation in the hepatorenal system of rats treated with aflatoxin B1

Abstract

Aflatoxicosis can induce largescale toxicities in predisposed populations. Food fortification with adequate antioxidant sources may reduce the toxic burden from aflatoxicosis. We examined the individual and combined effect of Caffeic acid (CA) on the aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-induced hepatic and renal injury in male rats. Five experimental rat cohort (n = 6) consisting of the control (2 mL/kg corn oil), AFB₁ alone (50 μg/kg), CA alone (40 mg/kg), AFB₁+CA₁ (50 μg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and AFB₁+CA₂ (50 μg/kg + 40 mg/kg) were so treated for 28 consecutive days. Upon sacrifices, diagnostic markers of hepatorenal functions, oxidative stress, inflammation, oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid -DNA-damage and apoptosis were analysed. Our results showed that CA reduced AFB₁-induced toxicities in rats' liver and kidneys by significantly increasing (p < 0.05) endogenous antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory IL-10 level. Caffeic acid simultaneously reduced hepatic and renal dysfunction biomarkers in the serum, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation levels. Besides, CA diminished reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, inflammatory nitric oxide levels, interleukin-1 β and the activities of xanthine oxidase and myeloperoxidase. Additionally, CA reduced DNA damage and caspase-mediated apoptotic responses and preserved the cytoarchitecture of rats' liver and kidneys treated with AFB₁. These data suggest that CA can be used as a food additive to mitigate AFB₁-induced toxicity in the examined organs.

Keywords: Aflatoxin B(1); Apoptosis; Caffeic acid; DNA damage; Hepatorenal toxicity; Oxido-inflammatory stress.