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Journal of Medical Sciences

Year: 2001 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 3 | Page No.: 91-96
DOI: 10.3923/jms.2001.91.96
The Modulating Effects of Red Palm Oil (β-Carotene) on Aflatoxin β1-induced Toxicity in Weaning rats
H. C. C. Maduka, A. O. Uwaifo and J. O. Nwankwo

Abstract: Palm oil (β-Carotene) was evaluated for its ability to inhibit/ ameliorate the aflatoxin β1-induced toxicity in six groups of experimental rats thus (water control, aflatoxin β1-treated, palm oil treated, palm oil and aflatoxin β1-alternate group, palm oil and aflatoxin β1 and aflatoxin β, and palm oil treated groups). Palm oil (1.4 μg β-carotene as Palm oil) was given orally while aflatoxin β1 (2 mg kg‾1 body weight) was given up to eight days and γ-glutamyl transferase (E. C. 2.3.2.2) activities were assayed in the liver and sera samples. The treatment with the palm oil caused a significant decrease in γ-glutamyl transferase activities in the palm oil treated groups compared with aflatoxin-treated controls in both liver and sera samples suggesting that palm oil contains antioxidant principles. Also treatment with palm oil ameliorated the histopathological lesion like fatty degeneration and necrosis induced by aflatoxin β1 thus suggesting that palm oil was cytoprotective. It is concluded that pretreatment with palm oil was necessary for maximum inhibition of aflatoxin β1-induced toxicity. The mechanism of inhibition by palm oil appeared to be inhibition of propagation of free radicals. Also administering palm oil and aflatoxin β1 alternately appeared to be necessary for maximum inhibition of toxicity.

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How to cite this article
H. C. C. Maduka, A. O. Uwaifo and J. O. Nwankwo, 2001. The Modulating Effects of Red Palm Oil (β-Carotene) on Aflatoxin β1-induced Toxicity in Weaning rats. Journal of Medical Sciences, 1: 91-96.

Keywords: Red plam oil, aflatoxin, toxicity and weaning rats

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