Artichoke Leaf Extract-Mediated Neuroprotection against Effects of Aflatoxin in Male Rats.

Attenuation of adverse effects of aflatoxin (AFB 1 ) in brains of B 1 rats by extracts of leaves of artichoke was studied. The active ingredients in extracts of leaves of artichoke, Cynara scolymus L., were determined by HPLC analysis. In the 42-day experiment, rats were exposed to either sterile water, 4% DMSO, 100 mg artichoke leaf extract/kg body mass, 72  μ g aflatoxin B 1 /kg body mass, or AFB 1 plus artichoke leaf extract. Neurotoxicity of AFB 1 was determined by an increase in profile of lipids, augmentation of plasmatic glucose and concentrations of insulin, oxidative stress, increased activities of cholinergic enzymes, and a decrease in activities of several antioxidant enzymes and pathological changes in brain tissue. Extracts of artichoke leaf significantly reduced adverse effects caused by AFB 1 , rescuing most of the parameters to values similar to unexposed controls, which demonstrated that adverse, neurotoxic effects caused by aflatoxin B 1 could be significantly reduced by simultaneous dietary supplementation with artichoke leaf extract, which itself is not toxic.