Protective effects of polydatin on ileum injury in mice exposed to aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an extremely hazardous food/feed pollutant, posing a serious threat to health of human and animals. Particularly, exposure to AFB1 provokes enterocytes oxidative stress and inflammation, which lead to intestinal damage. Polydatin (PD), a stilbenoid glucoside, is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is being investigated for use in various disorders. The present study was intended at investigating the protective efficacy of polydatin against AFB1-induced ileum damage in mice. Kunming male mice received oral gavage of AFB1 (300 μg/kg body weight/day) and PD (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 18 days. The results showed that mice exposed to AFB1 exhibited the impaired morphology, the suppressed disaccharidase activities, the down-regulated mRNA expressions of tight junction protein genes, oxidative stress, inflammation and the up-regulated mRNA expressions of genes related to mitophagy in the ileum, whereas PD treatment reversed the AFB1-induced disruption of ileal structure, digestion, barrier function, redox and immune status. The findings of the present study suggested that PD may have a potential benefit in preventing AFB1-induced ileum damage.