The pretreatment effects of pentoxifylline on aflatoxin B1-induced oxidative damage in perfused rat liver

This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure in perfused rat livers by evaluating damage marker enzymes, antioxidant defense systems (glutathione, GSH) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Sixteen rats were divided randomly into four experimental groups: control, PTX, AFB1 and AFB1 + PTX. Rats in the control group were infused with Krebs–Henseleit bicarbonate buffer. Rats in the AFB1-treated group received approximately 1 ppm and the PTX- treated group received 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally 24 h before surgery. Alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were increased by AFB1 and decreased by PTX. PTX also ameliorated the increased concentration of MDA caused by AFB1. PTX did not compensate for the decrease in GSH caused by AFB1. These results imply that PTX has an antioxidant effect by inhibiting free radicals, and prior treatment with PTX ameliorates the effects of AFB1-induced lipid peroxidation but does not compensate GSH depots.