Effects of Tarantula cubensis D6 on aflatoxin-induced injury in biochemical parameters in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites that have adverse effects on humans and animals. Tarantula cubensis D6 is used as a homeopathic medicine for different purposes. The present study investigates the effects of Tarantula cubensis D6 on the oxidant-antioxidant balance and some biochemical parameters against exposure to aflatoxin. METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley female rats were used and evenly divided into four groups. Group 1 served as control. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received 200 µl/kg.bw/day Tarantula cubensis D6 (applied subcutaneously), 400 µg/kg.bw/day total aflatoxin (approximately 80% AF B1, 10% AF B2, 6 %AF G1, and 4% AF G2), and 200 µl/kg.bw/day Tarantula cubensis D6 plus 400 µg/kg.bw/day total aflatoxin, respectively, for 28 days. At the end of 28 days, blood samples and some organs (liver, kidney, brain, and spleen) were taken from all the animals. Oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px) and some biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, BUN, creatinine, AST, ALT and ALP, total protein, albumin) were evaluated in blood samples and tissues. RESULTS: Aflatoxin caused negative changes in all oxidative stress parameters and some biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, total protein, albumin). Administration of Tarantula cubensis D6 partly alleviated aflatoxin-induced negative changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that Tarantula cubensis D6 partially neutralized the deleterious effects of aflatoxin.

Investigation of aflatoxins contamination in herbal materia medica in a Taiwan pharmaceutical factory.

During the years 2005-2016, a total of 1067 samples for 24 types of herbal materia medica were investigated for the presence of aflatoxins (AFs) using immunoaffinity column cleanup and HPLC-coupled to a fluorescence detector after post-column derivatization. AFs were detected in 373 (35%) out of the total samples. Among them, Platycladi Semen (65% for total AFs and 79% for AFB1), Corydalis Rhizoma (53% for total AFs and 32% for AFB1), Corni Fructus (3% for total AFs), Coicis Semen (3% for total AFs and AFB1), Nelumbinis Semen (6% for total AFs and 9% for AFB1), Arecae Semen (18% for AFB1), Polygalae Radix (5% for total AFs and AFB1), and Cassiae Semen (25% for total AFs and 38% for AFB1) exceeded the official limits of 5 and 10 µg/kg, for AFB1 and total AFs (the sum of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), respectively, set by the Taiwan government. We concluded that Platycladi Semen, Corydalis Rhizoma, and Cassiae Semen are the most commonly contaminated by AFs.