Hepatoprotective effects of Radix Bupleuri extract on aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury in ducks

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is recognized as the most toxic mycotoxin, widely present in nature and known to specifically target the liver, leading to severe consequences to animal and human health. The mechanisms underlying AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity involve oxidative stress and apoptosis. Radix Bupleuri (RB) and its extracts (RBE), traditional Chinese herbs with a rich history spanning over 2000 years, have been reported to possess hepatoprotective properties. Nevertheless, the impact of RBE on AFB1-induced liver injury remains to be fully elucidated. The current study utilized Pekin ducks as experimental models to explore the effects of RBE on AFB1-induced liver injury both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro findings indicated that RBE mitigated AFB1-induced cytotoxicity, improved primary duck hepatocytes (PDHs) morphology, and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In vivo experiments demonstrated that: I) RBE alleviated the growth inhibitory caused by AFB1, as evidenced by improved final body weight and weight gain. II) AFB1 led to significant alterations in serum biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, TP, and ALB) and liver lesions attenuated by RBE supplementation at 2.5 g/kg. III) RBE significantly mitigated oxidative stress induced by AFB1. IV) AFB1-induced changes in mRNA and protein levels associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis were counteracted by RBE. In conclusion, our results suggest that RBE offers protection against AFB1-induced liver injury in ducks, primarily through its antioxidative and anti-apoptotic properties. These findings indicate the potential of RBE in preventing and treating AFB1 poisoning.