Microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) attenuates aflatoxin-associated renal injury

Ahmed Abdeen; Rasha Elsabagh; Sawsan S Elbasuni; Alshaimaa M Said; Afaf Abdelkader; Ali H El-Far; Samah F Ibrahim; Ostan Mihaela; Liana Fericean; Abdelfattah M Abdelfattah; Mohamed El-Hewaity; Nady Elbarbary; Amgad Y Kadah; Samar S Ibrahim

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1291965

Microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) attenuates aflatoxin-associated renal injury

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Dec 27:14:1291965. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1291965. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.
² Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.
³ Department of Avian and Rabbit Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Biology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture. University of Life Sciences "King Michael I" from Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania.
⁹ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin Elkoum, Egypt.
¹¹ Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Aflatoxins (AFT) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are extremely dangerous for both human beings as well as animals. A safe, effective, and considerate strategy is therefore credited with controlling AFT intoxication. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the mitigating properties of Chlorella vulgaris (ChV) against AFT-induced nephrotoxicity and altered egg quality. Methods: Quails were randomized into Control group (receiving a normal diet); ChV group (1 g/kg diet); AFT group (receiving an AFT-containing diet); and the AFT-ChV group were given both treatments. Results and discussion: AFT provoked kidney injury, exhibited by increased renal biochemical parameters and reduced protein levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels dramatically increased as a consequence of AFT exposure, and glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were also decreased. Substantial up-modulation of the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) was additionally reported. Furthermore, AFT residues were detected in the egg compromising its quality and nutritional value. Contrarily, ChV supplemented diet suppressed the AFT-prompted oxidative stress and inflammation, together with enhancing the nutritional value and quality of eggs and decreasing AFT residues. These beneficial impacts are proposed to be attributed to its antioxidant and nutritional ingredients. The molecular docking dynamics confirmed the inflammatory and apoptotic protein targets for ChV. Our findings recommend that adding ChV supplements to foods might guard against nephrotoxicity brought on by AFT exposure.

Keywords: Japanese quail; apoptosis; computational modeling; inflammatory cytokines; oxidative stress; residues.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R127), Princess Nourah bint Ab-dulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This research was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSPD2023R811), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, this paper is published from the project 6PFE of the University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara and Research Institute for Biosecurity and Bioengineering from Timisoara.