Functional yogurt aims to protect against the aflatoxin B1 toxicity in rats

Abstract

Recently, the rise of mycotoxin contamination in food materials was found to be due to several factors, including climatic changes' impact. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a novel food product that allows the reduction of aflatoxin impact in animal tissues. Chicory root-extract (CRE) was evaluated for its active components, antioxidant potency, and antimicrobial activity. The CRE was utilized to produce functional yogurt (FY) that was evaluated in-vivo using experimental rats. The CRE showed high antioxidant activity and recorded valuable content of the active components. Results also showed a high antimicrobial effect against toxigenic fungal strains. The results have reflected the efficiency of the FY to suppress aflatoxin impacts in the animal tissues and biochemical parameters of rats-serum. An enhancement was recorded inliver and kidney functions for rats taking FY with the presence of aflatoxin. It was concluded that consumption of the FY assisted in suppression of the oxidative stress in rats-tissues.

Keywords: Aflatoxin; Chicory-root extract; Functional yogurt; Mycotoxin; Oxidative stress.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Changes in serum-protein content due to aflatoxin B₁ and chicory extract.

Fig. 2

The changes in the lipid profile of aflatoxin-treated rats due to the administrating with chicory extract and yogurt. The column with above different letters are significantly different at (P = 0.05).

Fig. 3

The ameliorating effect of chicory extract on the enzymes of liver-tissues of aflatoxin treated rats. The column with the above different letters is significantly different at (P = 0.05).

Fig. 4

A micrograph of sections of the liver from A) normal control rat shows the normal architecture of the hepatic lobule. The central vein (asterisk) lies at the center of the lobule surrounded by cords of hepatocytes (arrow). Between the strands of hepatocytes, the hepatic sinusoids are shown (arrow-head), B) positive control rat (AFB-treated) shows congested central vein (asterisk) and centrilobular necrosis of the hepatocytes (arrowhead) associated with inflammatory cell infiltration (arrow), C) positive control rat (AFB₁) shows portal and periportal lymphocytic infiltration (arrow) and congestion of the portal vessels (arrowhead). Notice, the periportal necrosis of the hepatocytes that surround the portal area (asterisk), D) Aflatoxin-treated rat shows focal necrosis of the hepatocytes that are associated with lymphocytic infiltration (arrow). Notice dilated hepatic sinusoids foci of necrotic hepatocytes (arrowheads), E) rat was given yogurt only shows the normal architecture of hepatic lobule (♦), F) rat given chicory root extract only shows the normal architecture of the hepatic lobule (asterisk) (H&Estain, Scale bar: 5 μm).

Fig. 5

A micrograph of sections of liver from B) rat given Yogurt and AFB₁ shows the architecture of the hepatic lobule appeared more or less like normal, C) rat given Yogurt and AFB₁ shows focal necrosis associated with lymphocytic infiltration and congested blood sinusoids, D) rat given chicory extract and AFB₁ shows the architecture of the hepatic lobule appeared more or less like normal, E) rat given chicory extract and AFB₁ show micro and macro vacuoles of fatty change (H&Estain, Scale bar: 5 μm).