The effect of lycopene on hepatotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene on oxidative stress in aflatoxin (AF) treated rats. In the study, a total number of 34 male, 3 months old Wistar-Albino rats were used. Rats were divided into four groups. Groups were formed as; 1st group: control group (not treated rats), 2nd group: Lycopene treated group (5 mg/kg/day, orally), 3rd group: AFB1 treated group (0,5 mg/kg/day, orally for 7 days) and 4th group: AFB1+Lycopene treated group. After the total number of 15 days of application, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured in blood and liver tissue samples. It was observed a significant increase in MDA level, decrease in GSH level, CAT, GST and GSH-Px activities in the blood and liver of AFB1 treated group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). MDA and GSH levels, CAT, GST, GSH-Px activities were observed no statistically significant difference in Lycopene and AFB1+Lycopene treated groups when compared separately with the control group. It was determined a significant decrease in MDA level and an increase in GSH level, CAT, GST, GSH-Px activities İN AFB1+Lyconpene treated group when compared with AFB1 group (p<0.05). GST activity in the blood could not be measured because it cannot be read at the level. It was determined to significantly increase in plasma aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and decrease in the plasma protein level in AFB1 treated group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). It wasn't observed significant differences in AST, ALT and LDH levels in the Lycopene and AFB1+Lycopene treated groups when compared with the control group. It was observed decrease in plasma AST, ALT and LDH levels, increase in plasma protein level İN AFB1+Lycopene treated group when compared with the AFB1 treated group and this difference statistically significant (p<0.05). Plasma glucose level was decreased in AFB1 treated group when compared with the control group and this decrease was found statistically significant (p <0.05). This study suggests that lycopene which has antioxidant properties can be prevented from AFB1 induced hepatotoxicity.