Nephrotoxicity of Patulin and its Modulation by Aqueous Green Tea Extract in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

: Patulin (PAT) is a major secondary metabolic mycotoxin produced by Penicillium that can contaminate food. Patulin forms an adduct when it interacts with amino acids that contain thiol groups; the creation of these adducts could represent the main toxic pathway of PAT. Catechins are a major component of green tea polyphenols. Polyphenols have many protective effects against chronic diseases. In this study, 60 rats were randomly divided into five groups, with 12 rats in each group. Group I rats were given 0.1% DMSO in saline 2 mL/kg BW for 7 days; Group II rats received 50 mg/kg BW of GTE for 7 days; Group III, IV, and V rats received 0.2 mg/kg BW of patulin for 14 days; then Group IV and V rats received 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg BW of GTE for 7 days; respectively. We evaluated the nephrotoxicity induced by patulin within the medulla and cortex and the enhancement role of GTE on both renal histological and physiological parameters. Urea, BUN, and creatinine levels showed a high significance increase ( p <0.001) in the patulin group, while GTE-treated groups showed a high significance decrease ( p <0.001). PAT-induced harmful effects on kidney tissue are portrayed in the structure of the cortex and medulla. The cortex showed improvement in renal corpuscles, while the medulla showed highly dilated lumina in most tubules with luminal deposits. Treated groups with GTE showed improvement in renal corpuscles, especially with high doses. So, we concluded that GTE had dose-dependent antioxidant and therapeutic effects on renal functions.