Protective Effect of Procyanidin B2 on Acute Liver Injury Induced by Aflatoxin B 1 in Rats

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the protective effect of procyanidin B2 (PCB2) on acute liver injury induced by aflatoxin B ₁ (AFB ₁) in rats.

Methods: Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, AFB ₁, AFB ₁ + PCB2, and PCB2 groups. The latter two groups were administrated PCB2 intragastrically (30 mg/kg body weight) for 7 d, whereas the control and AFB ₁ groups were given the same dose of double distilled water intragastrically. On the sixth day of treatment, the AFB ₁ and AFB ₁ + PCB2 groups were intraperitoneally injected with AFB ₁ (2 mg/kg). The control and PCB2 groups were intraperitoneally administered the same dose of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). On the eighth day, all rats were euthanized: serum and liver tissue were isolated for further examination. Hepatic histological features were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Weight, organ coefficient (liver, spleen, and kidney), liver function (serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin), oxidative index (catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine), inflammation factor [hepatic interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA expression and serum IL-6], and bcl-2/bax ratio were measured.

Results: AFB ₁ significantly caused hepatic histopathological damage, abnormal liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and bcl-2/bax ratio reduction compared with DMSO-treated controls. Our results indicate that PCB2 treatment can partially reverse the adverse liver conditions induced by AFB ₁.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that PCB2 exhibits a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by AFB ₁.

Keywords: Acute liver injury; Aflatoxin B1; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Procyanidin B2.