Caffeic acid protects against DNA damage, oxidative and inflammatory mediated toxicities, and upregulated caspases activation in the hepatorenal system of rats treated with aflatoxin B 1

Aflatoxicosis can induce largescale toxicities in predisposed populations. Food fortification with adequate antioxidant sources may reduce the toxic burden from aflatoxicosis. We examined the individual and combined effect of Caffeic acid (CA) on the aflatoxin B (AFB )-induced hepatic and renal injury in male rats. Five experimental rat cohort (n = 6) consisting of the control (2 mL/kg corn oil), AFB alone (50 μg/kg), CA alone (40 mg/kg), AFB +CA (50 μg/kg + 20 mg/kg) and AFB +CA (50 μg/kg + 40 mg/kg) were so treated for 28 consecutive days. Upon sacrifices, diagnostic markers of hepatorenal functions, oxidative stress, inflammation, oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid -DNA-damage and apoptosis were analysed. Our results showed that CA reduced AFB -induced toxicities in rats' liver and kidneys by significantly increasing (p