title: Modulation of rifampicin toxicity by 6 MFA, an interferon inducer obtained from fungus Aspergillus ochraceus.
abstract: The effect of 6 MFA (Sixth mycelial fraction of acetone), an interferon inducer obtained from fungus Aspergillus ochraceus, on rifampicin toxicity was studied in rats. Chronic oral administration of rifampicin (1 g/kg per day) for 30 days produced thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anaemia, transient leukopenia and increased nucleated cells in bone marrow and decreased weights of thymus and spleen significantly in male rats. Furthermore, chronic administration of rifampicin induced significant increase in cytochrome P-450 contents, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver and bone marrow. Simultaneous administration of 6 MFA (100 mg/kg; i.p.) on alternate days for a period of 30 days prevented most of the adverse effects of rifampicin, mentioned earlier and also restored the hepatic architecture histologically. The LPO, cytochrome P 450 content, lymphocyte and bone marrow cell counts returned to normal level whereas SOD activity was further increased. The 6 MFA treatment enhanced the SRBC antibody litre in rifampicin-treated rats. Thus, beneficial effects of 6 MFA in the amelioration of mediated rifampicin toxicity observed in the present study may be through induction of interferons and their associated effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Centre, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Pimpri, Pune-411 018, India.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Dhuley
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Naik