Protective Effect of Procyanidin B2 on Acute Liver Injury Induced by Aflatoxin B1 in Rats

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the protective effect of procyanidin B2 (PCB2) on acute liver injury induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in rats. MethodsForty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, AFB1, AFB1 + PCB2, and PCB2 groups. The latter two groups were administrated PCB2 intragastrically (30 mg/kg body weight) for 7 d, whereas the control and AFB1 groups were given the same dose of double distilled water intragastrically. On the sixth day of treatment, the AFB1 and AFB1 + PCB2 groups were intraperitoneally injected with AFB1 (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. ResultsAFB1 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 AFB1. ConclusionOur findings indicate that PCB2 exhibits a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by AFB1.