Protective Effects of Copper (I)-Nicotinate Complex Against Aflatoxicosis

Abstract

Aflatoxicosis mostly leads to serious clinical signs of malnutrition, growth retardation, and impairment of utilization of nutrients, immunosupression, liver diseases and cancer. Detoxification or prevention of such toxicity is interesting to researchers in change field. In pursuit for an approach, the synthetic copper(I)-nicotinate complex has been evaluated against the traditional Butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) for possible protective effects as a food additive in induced aflatoxicosed animals. Induction of toxicity in adult rats by AFB 1 60 µg/kg body weight divided on three times a week for consecutive five weeks resulted in marked hepatic necrosis, collagen fibers around portal tract and iron deposits as well as features of general cellular collapse and cirrhosis. The protective effects were tested on two animal groups by associate doses of BHT (0.05 mg / kg B.W.) in one group and copper (I) nicotinate complex (0.4 mg/kg B.W.) in the other. Results showed, in both groups, almost normal histological as well as biochemical markers especially those treated with the copper complex, which suggests that anti-inflammatory copper complex can be used as a protective agent against aflatoxicosis when used in doses resemble those used in pharmaceutical vitamin supplements.