title: Role of Adhatoda vasica (L.) Nees leaf extract in the prevention of aflatoxin-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aflatoxin contamination of various foodstuffs and agricultural commodities is a major problem worldwide. Several strategies have been reported for the detoxification of aflatoxins in contaminated foods and feeds, but all these methods have their own shortcomings. Traditional medicinal plants are potential sources of aflatoxin-detoxifying compounds. In this study a spray-dried formulation of Adhatoda vasica (L.) Nees leaf extract was prepared and its chemopreventive effect on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced biochemical changes in the liver and serum of Wistar rats was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of AFB1 (1.5 mg kg(-1) body weight (BW) intraperitoneally) to rats significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver tissues and increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase and the levels of very-low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol in blood serum. However, pre-feeding of rats with A. vasica formulation (500 mg kg(-1) BW for 7 days) protected the animals from AFB1-induced biochemical changes during subsequent exposure to AFB1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-feeding of rats with A. vasica formulation counteracted the hepatic dysfunction induced by subsequent treatment with AFB1. This formulated A. vasica extract offers a biologically safe alternative to detoxify aflatoxin and has huge potential to be used in the poultry industry to reduce aflatoxicosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Agricultural Processing Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brinda
authors.forename: Selvaraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vijayanandraj
authors.forename: Doraiswamy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uma
authors.forename: Dorairaj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malathi
authors.forename: Vaikuntavasan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paranidharan
authors.forename: Rethinasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velazhahan
mesh_terms: D027901:Acanthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Adhatoda vasica; aflatoxin; chemoprevention; detoxification; medicinal plants