Resveratrol Alleviates Aflatoxin B1-induced Renal Cortex Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Adult Male Albino Rats

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin generated by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, known for its potential to cause liver cancer and has been associated with several adverse health effects. It commonly contaminates cereals, peanuts, corn, and other crops, posing serious risks to both poultry and human health. One promising natural compound that has gained attention for its potential health benefits is resveratrol. The current research aims to explore the possible effect of resveratrol on AFB1-induced kidney damage in rats.

Forty adult male albino rats were evenly assigned into four groups: a control group, a group treated with resveratrol at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day orally for 10 days, a group treated with AFB1 at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/day orally for 10 days and a group treated with both resveratrol and AFB1. After 10 days of treatment, renal tissues were processed for biochemical, gene expression, histopathological, and immunohistochemical investigations.

Administering resveratrol led to a reduction in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, renal malondialdehyde concentrations, interleukin 6 gene expression, and the immunoreactivity of the proapoptotic protein (Bax). It also restored reduced glutathione levels, increased sirtuin 1 gene expression, and the immunoreactivity of the antiapoptotic protein (Bcl2). Furthermore, resveratrol improved the alterations in the histopathology in AFB1-treated group.

Coadministration of resveratrol in AFB1 toxicity exhibited a significant ability to improve renal function through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms in experimentally induced renal damage by AFB1.