Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Extract Protects Rat Erythrocyte from the Oxidative Damage Induced by the Synergistic Effects of Subchronic Treatment with Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin

Aims: The current study aimed to evaluate the protective role of ginseng extract (GE) against the oxidative damage of erythrocytes resulted from the synergistic effects of subchronic (84 days) treatment with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B (FB) in male and female rats.
Study Design: Animals were divided into six groups of ten rats (5 males and 5 females) included: the control group; GE alone-treated group (150 mg/kg b.w); the group treated orally with AFB1 (17 μg/kg b.w) during the first 2 weeks and fed FB1-contaminated diet (100 mg/kg diet) during the 6th to 8th weeks; the group treated with GE during the mycotoxin protocol and continued till week 10; the group treated with GE 2 weeks before AFB1 administration and continued till the end of FB1 treatment and the group treated with GE for 4 weeks after the toxin protocol stopped.
Methodology: Blood samples were collected at the end of treatment for hematological and biochemical determinations.
Results: The results showed that the mycotoxins ingestion caused insignificant decrease in total hemoglobin (Hb) content, whereas they caused a significant increase in contents of Met-Hb, Carboxy-Hb and Sulf-Hb fractions accompanied by a significant decrease in Oxy-Hb faction, compared to the control group. Erythrocyte Met-HbR, SOD and GR activities were significantly decreased after mycotoxins treatment. In addition, mycotoxins ingestion induced a significant decrease in serum levels of iron and TIBC but did not significantly affect serum ferritin level. These effects were pronounced in male rats than in females. Treatment with GE ameliorated the erythrocytes damage induced by mycotoxins as indicated by the modulations in most of the investigated markers.
Conclusion: Treatment with GE has beneficial effect in counteracting erythrocyte membrane damage and hemoglobin changes induced by aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1. This effect may be probably through its potent antioxidative activity.