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Protective effect of Crocin against zearalenone-induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney of Balb/c mice

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Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin from Fusarium species commonly found in many food commodities and known to cause reproductive disorders. Several studies have shown that ZEN is hematotoxic and hepatotoxic and causes several alterations of immunological parameters. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Crocin (CRO), a natural carotenoid, against ZEN-induced toxicity in both renal and hepatic tissues of Balb/c mice. We demonstrated that ZEN (40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) induced oxidative stress in both kidney and liver as monitored by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the protein carbonyl generation, the catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, and the expression of the heat shock proteins (Hsp70). However, combined treatment of ZEN with different doses of CRO (50, 100, and 250 mg/kg b.w.) significantly reduced ZEN-induced alterations in all tested oxidative stress markers. It could be concluded that CRO was effective in the protection against ZEN-induced toxicity in the liver and kidney of Balb/c mice.

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Abbreviations

ZEN:

Zearalenone

CRO:

Crocin

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Ministère Tunisien de l’Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche Scientifique et de la Technologie.

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Authors assure that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Research on Biologically Compatible Compounds, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Rue Avicenne, 5019, Monastir, Tunisia

    Intidhar Ben Salem, Manel Boussabbeh, Sabeh Helali, Salwa Abid-Essefi & Hassen Bacha

  2. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Carthage University, Tunis, Tunisia

    Intidhar Ben Salem & Manel Boussabbeh

Authors
  1. Intidhar Ben Salem
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  2. Manel Boussabbeh
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  3. Sabeh Helali
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  4. Salwa Abid-Essefi
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  5. Hassen Bacha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salwa Abid-Essefi.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

ZEN triggers oxidative stress in renal and hepatic tissues.

CRO has a protective effect against ZEN-induced oxidative stress.

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Ben Salem, I., Boussabbeh, M., Helali, S. et al. Protective effect of Crocin against zearalenone-induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney of Balb/c mice. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 19069–19076 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5086-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5086-2

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