Protection of crocin dyes on the acute hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin B₁ and dimethylnitrosamine in rats

Abstract

Chemopreventive agents are compounds that inhibit carcinogenesis when administered prior or subsequent to a course of carcinogen administration. The effects of dietary administration of crocin dyes on the hepatic damage induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats were investigated. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with different dosages of AFB1 (0.9 or 4.5 mg/kg) or DMN (8 or 20 mg/kg) by i.p. administration, and the different degrees of hepatic damage were revealed by the elevations of levels of serum marker enzymes such as aspartate amino-transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and lactic dehydrogenase. Pre-treatment of the animals with crocin dyes 50 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days, the enzyme elevations were significantly suppressed. This suggested that the crocin dyes possessed chemopreventive effects on the early acute hepatic damage induced by AFB1 or DMN. Feeding experiments demonstrated that crocin dyes at 0.1% in the diet could suppress partially the chronic hepatic damage induced by multiple dosages of AFB1 or DMN, but at a higher concentration of 1% crocin dye failed to do so because of their host toxicity. Crocin dyes are extracted from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides and consist of carotenoids and geniposides as active principles. The protective mechanisms of crocin dyes may be attributed to their carotenoids which are converted metabolically to retinoids in rats.

Anti-oxidant protective effects of <i> Cassia alata</i> in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride

“…(1998) who induced liver damage in rats by administering CCL4 levels of O.5mg/kg The results in this study indicate that CCl 4 caused an increase in the serum levels of marker enzymes: ALT and AST. Such elevation is indicative of liver injury, especially, the rise in L-ALT activity (Lin and Wang, 1986;Reinke et. al., 1988).…”

“…al., 2001). Serum or plasma enzyme levels have been used as markers for monitoring chemically induced tissue damages (Lin and Wang, 1986;Ngaha et. al., 1989).…”

Hepatoprotective effects of Garcinia kola seed against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

“…5 who reported elevated levels in the serum content of hepatic enzymes in rats administered with CC1 4 . In particular, the elevation of ALT is indicative of liver damage 12,13 . These enzymes are located in the cell cytoplasm and are emptied into the circulation once the cellular membrane is damaged 14,15 .…”

Detoxification capacity and protective effects of medicinal plants (part 2): plant based review

“…In rifampin-treated rats, silymarin and EECSL.S (40 and 80 mg/kg) were significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarker of hepathic injury and total bilirubin and elevated the levels of albumin and total proteins. Histopathologically, silymarin and EECSL.S ameliorated rifampin induced hepatic injury [95].Crocin possessed hepatoprotective effects against aflatoxin B1 hapatotoxicity via the reduction of hepatic (AST, ALT, ALP and γ-GGT) and via its antioxidant activity in rats [96].…”