Prevention of aflatoxin B 1 ‐initiated hepatotoxicity in rat by marine algae extracts

Chemoprevention by extracts of Laurencia obtusa (E1) and Caulerpa prolifera (E2) collected from the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea against aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 )‐initiated hepatotoxicity in female Sprague‐Dawley rats has been studied. Animals were fed aflatoxin‐contaminated diet (3 mg kg −1 diet) for 6 days then treated orally with pure aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) (200 µg kg −1 b.w.) for 4 days either in combination with or before E1 or E2 administration (50 mg kg −1 b.w.). AFB 1 resulted in a signicant increase in serum alpha fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, tumor necrosis factor alpha, nitric oxide, interleukin‐1 α , procollagen III and lipid peroxidation level in the liver. It caused a signicant decrease in food intake, body weight, serum leptin, the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and DNA and RNA concentrations in the liver. Cotreatment with AFB 1 and E1 or E2 resulted in an obvious improvement in all tested parameters. Noteworthy, E2 was more effective than E1 in the protection against AFB 1 ‐induced hepatotoxicity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.