Chemopreventive Effects of Certain Nutritive Acids on Aflatoxin-induced Cytotoxicity

Many investigators have evaluated the effects of several plant products in modulating in vitro metabolism of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) by microsomal mixed function oxidase (MFO), thereby reducing its toxicity. However, the importance of these studies is of limited significance as MFO is not present in all cells. Our earlier study revealed a concentrationdependent increase in the rate of haemolysis, indicating aflatoxin-induced cytotoxicity on red blood cells. It could be due to the direct action of aflatoxin on the plasma membrane, as MFO required for bioactivation of AFB 1 is absent in red blood cells. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of some micronutrients, namely lactic, citric and folic acid, in ameliorating aflatoxin-induced cytotoxicity on red blood cells in vitro .