Protective effects of melatonin and N-acetylserotonin on aflatoxin B1-induced lipid peroxidation in rats

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin. Reactive oxygen species are considered to participate in the main mechanism of aflatoxin toxicity. Melatonin (Mel) is a hormone which has antioxidative activities. N-acetylserotonin (NAc-5HT) is an immediate precursor of Mel. Melatonin is documented to be completely safe in humans and animals. The aim of our study was to examine the potential protective effects of Mel or NAc-5HT against lipid peroxidation (LPO), caused by AFB1 in male Wistar rats. Mel and NAc-5HT were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected for 3 weeks in late afternoon (16:00-18:00) injections (20 mg kg(-1) BW/daily). AFB1 (50 microg kg(-1) BW/daily) was administered i.p. 6 h prior to indoleamine injections. Concentrations of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA), as an index of LPO, were measured in liver, brain, lung, testis and kidney homogenates. The level of LPO in tissue homogenates was expressed as the amount of MDA + 4-HDA (nmol) per milligram of protein. AFB1 increased LPO in the liver, lung, brain and testis, but not the kidney. The increase of LPO caused by AFB1 injections was completely prevented by either Mel or NAc-5HT in all the tissues examined. Melatonin can be considered as a protective pharmacological agent in intoxication with AFB1 and the protective effect of NAc-5HT against aflatoxin-induced LPO broadens the knowledge about its antioxidative properties.