Abstract
The antifungal effect of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) fruit aqueous extract againstAspergillus flavus was investigated in vitro. The result showed that incubation of different pumpkin aqueous extract (0.5 to 2%) with living mass of the fungus has suppressive effect on the fungal growth after 6 days compared with untreated control sample. However 2% of pumpkin aqueous extract was the most effective in inhibiting the fungal growth. The protective efficacy of pumpkin fruit aqueous extract against either A. flavus fungus infection or aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity induced renal damage in rats was also investigated. A. flavus and AFB1 were administered intraperitoneally (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight) for 15 consecutive days. The result revealed that infection of rats with A. flavus or intoxication with AFB1 significantly induced renal damage as indicated by marked increased levels of serum urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as histopathological pictures compared with normal healthy rats. Oral co-administration of aqueous extract of pumpkin fruits (1.0 mg / kg of body weight) to either rat groups infected with A. flavus or intoxicated with AFB1 for 20 consecutive days effectively normalized the serum kidney function biomarkers and confirmed by histomorphologic pictures which showed normal histological structure. Key words: Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin B1, antifungal, renal damage.
Highlights
Fungal infections are mainly caused by opportunistic fungi and are usually associated with immunosuppression (Shoham and Levitz, 2005)
The result showed that incubation of different concentrations of pumpkin aqueous extract (0.5 to 2%) with living mass of the fungus has suppressive effect on the fungus growth after 6 days compared with untreated control sample. 2% of the plant extract was the most effective in inhibiting the fungal growth
The result showed that infection of rats with A. flavus (G3) or treated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (G5) for 15 consecutive days, dramatically causes renal tissue damage as indicated by marked increases in serum urea, uric acid and creatinine compared with normal rats (P ≤ 0.001)
Summary
Fungal infections are mainly caused by opportunistic fungi and are usually associated with immunosuppression (Shoham and Levitz, 2005). Aflatoxins (AFs) are highly toxic secondary fungal metabolites produced by the species of Aspergillus, especially Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungi can grow on a wide variety of foods and feeds under favorable temperature and humidity (Giray et al, 2007). Aflatoxins are well known to be potent mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive agent; inhibit several metabolic systems, causing liver, kidney and heart damage (Wogan, 1999; Bintvihok, 2002; Wangikar et al, 2005). These toxins have been incriminated as the cause of high mortality in livestock and some cases of death in human being (Salunkhe et al, 1987)
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