Abstract
Microcystin- (MC-) LR is the most frequent cyanotoxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria in the contaminated freshwater environment. MC represents a health hazard to humans and animals. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the potential ameliorative effect of thymoquinone (TQ) and/or piperine (PP) against MC toxicity in mice. Fifty-six mice were randomly divided into seven experimental groups. Group I is the normal control that received distilled water for 21 days; Group II (TQ) was treated with TQ (10 mg/kg, i.p) for 21 days; Group III (PP) was treated with PP (25 mg/kg, i.p) for 21 days; Group IV (MC) was treated with MC (10 μg/kg, i.p) for 14 days and served as the toxic control; and Groups V, VI, and VII received TQ and/or PP 7 days prior to MC and continued for 14 days with MC. The results revealed that MC elicited hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity which was evident due to the significant elevation of serum AST, ALT, γGT, ALP, LDH, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Furthermore, MC markedly increased MDA and NO contents along with reduction of GSH, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px in liver and brain tissues. The electron transport chain may be a possible target for MC. TQ and/or PP ameliorated the MC-mediated oxidative damage in the liver and brain which might be attributed to their antioxidant properties. However, the concurrent treatment of TQ and PP showed the best regimen as a result of the PP-enhanced bioavailability of TQ.
Highlights
Microcystin- (MC-) LR is the most frequent cyanotoxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria in the contaminated freshwater environment
The results revealed that MC elicited hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity which was evident due to the significant elevation of serum Aspartate aminotransferase CAT (AST), Alanine aminotransferase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (ALT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase GSH (γGT), ALP, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels
Microcystin- (MC-) LR is the most abundant cyanotoxin released by Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria into freshwater bodies as a result of extensive anthropogenic eutrophication [1]
Summary
Microcystin- (MC-) LR is the most abundant cyanotoxin released by Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) into freshwater bodies as a result of extensive anthropogenic eutrophication [1]. MC, which is known to withstand higher temperatures (up to 300°C) increasing its persistence in the aquatic ecosystem, together with excessive production lead to the build-up of high concentrations in the environment offering potential sources of exposure for humans, animals, fish, and birds, mainly through consumption of contaminated seafood, vegetables, and drinking water [2, 3]. The MC-prolonged exposure promotes oncogenesis in humans [13], together with the abovementioned; MC has become a great global health concern. MC is known to exert its hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity via the inhibition of phosphatase enzymes [4]. MC reaches the hepatocytes, wherein it has high affinity with the serine/threonine-containing enzyme phosphatases causing hyperphosphorylation and enzyme
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