Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Protective effects of methanolic leaf extracts of Monanthotaxis caffra against aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Submitted: 17 August 2021 | Published: 23 March 2022
About the author(s)
Rhulani Makhuvele, Toxicology and Ethnoveterinary Medicine, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary research, Onderstepoort, South Africa; and, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South AfricaKenn Foubert, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Nina Hermans, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Luc Pieters, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Luc Verschaeve, Department of Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium; and, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Esam Elgorashi, Toxicology and Ethnoveterinary Medicine, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary research, Onderstepoort, South Africa; and, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
Abstract
Aflatoxins are potent hepatotoxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi. The present study investigated the protective effect of methanolic leaf extracts of Monanthotaxis caffra (MLEMC) against aflatoxin B1-induced toxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 animals each. Five groups were administered orally for seven days with three different concentrations of MLEMC (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg), curcumin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle (25% propylene glycol). The following day, these groups were administered 1 mg/kg b.w. of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The experiment was terminated three days after administration of AFB1. Group 6 represented untreated healthy control. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine and liver histopathology were evaluated. Methanolic leaf extracts of M. caffra decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine in the sera of rats as compared with the AFB1 intoxicated group. Co-administration of MLEMC improved the histological characteristics of the hepatocytes in contrast to the AFB1 treated group, which had mild to severe hepatocellular injuries including bile duct proliferation, bile duct hyperplasia, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and fibrosis. Extracts of M. caffra were beneficial in mitigating the hepatotoxic effects of AFB1 in rats by reducing the levels of liver enzymes and preventing hepatic injury.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 4359Total article views: 4383
Crossref Citations
1. Immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the use of natural products to ameliorate its immunotoxic effects: A review
Gilbert Kipkoech, Mercy Jepkorir, Sally Kamau, Alice Wanyoko, Susan Kibunja, Rechard Amozi Jeremiah, Johnson Masese, Vincent Ntui-Njock, Charles Mutai, Peter Mwitari
Open Research Africa vol: 6 first page: 22 year: 2023
doi: 10.12688/openresafrica.14406.1
2. New insights of 4-Methylesculetin in alleviating the effect of aflatoxin B1 on flesh quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Xiang-Ning He, Jia-Jia Zhang, Wei-Dan Jiang, Pei Wu, Yang Liu, Hong-Mei Ren, Xiao-Wan Jin, He-Qun Shi, Xiao-Qiu Zhou, Lin Feng
Aquaculture vol: 594 first page: 741442 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741442
3. Models utilised in phytomedicine research for components of metabolic syndrome: A critical assessment of South African studies
Adebowale Emmanuel Aladejana, Maxleene Sandasi, Alvaro Viljoen
South African Journal of Botany vol: 184 first page: 971 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.06.038
4. Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species
Josefa Rangel, Ângela Liberal, Sílvia Catarino, José Carlos Costa, Maria M. Romeiras, Ângela Fernandes
Food Chemistry vol: 448 first page: 139048 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139048
5. Hepatoprotective effects of leaf extract of Annona senegalensis against aflatoxin B1 toxicity in rats
Rhulani Makhuvele, Kenn Foubert, Nina Hermans, Luc Pieters, Luc Verschaeve, Esameldin Elgorashi
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research vol: 91 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v91i1.2133
6. Phytochemical Screening, Pharmacognostic Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Hepatoprotective Effects of Abroma augustum (L.) L.f. on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells and Goat Liver Homogenate
Sandipan Das, Tanushree Deb, Filomena Mottola, Nithar Ranjan Madhu, Yogisharadhya Revanaiah, Israel Maldonado Rosas, Sarbani Dey Ray, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury
Antioxidants vol: 14 issue: 4 first page: 472 year: 2025
doi: 10.3390/antiox14040472
7. Baicalin protects against hepatocyte injury caused by aflatoxin B1 via the TP53-related ferroptosis Pathway
Han-Jing Zhang, Jian-Zhu Luo, Chen-lu Lan, Xiong Teng, Bin Ge, Jun-Qi Liu, Hai-Xiang Xie, Ke-Jian Yang, Chong-Jiu Qin, Xin Zhou, Tao Peng
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety vol: 281 first page: 116661 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116661
8. Antioxidant, antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties of Plectranthus species
Kgomotso B. Sako, Tshepiso J. Makhafola, Roel Antonissen, Luc Pieters, Luc Verschaeve, Esam E. Elgorashi
South African Journal of Botany vol: 161 first page: 113 year: 2023
doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.07.062
9. Immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the use of natural products to ameliorate its immunotoxic effects: A review
Gilbert Kipkoech, Mercy Jepkorir, Sally Kamau, Alice Wanyoko, Susan Kibunja, Rechard Amozi Jeremiah, Johnson Masese, Vincent Ntui-Njock, Charles Mutai, Peter Mwitari
Open Research Africa vol: 6 first page: 22 year: 2025
doi: 10.12688/openresafrica.14406.2
10. Current Status and Potential of Immune Adjuvants in Mycotoxin Immune Enhancement: Mechanisms, Innovations, and Applications
Keyun Ren, Chunlei Yu, Qingqing Yang, Qi Zhang, Peiwu Li
Advanced Healthcare Materials year: 2025
doi: 10.1002/adhm.202503644