Ameliorative effects of tinospora cordifolia root extract on histopathological and biochemical changes induced by aflatoxin-b(1) in mice kidney.

The present study was planned to investigate the ability of the Tinospora cordifolia to scavenge free radicals generated during aflatoxicosis. A total no. of 48 male Swiss albino mice (30 ± 5 g) were exposed to Aflatoxin B(1)(AFB(1)) (2 μg/30 g b.wt, orally) either individually or in combination with T. cordifolia (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 25 days. AFB(1) exposure led to significant rise in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and fall in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbic acid, and protein content. T. cordifolia was found to show protective effect by lowering down the content of TBARS and enhancing the GSH, ascorbic acid, protein, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz., SOD, CAT, glutathione peroxidase, GST, and GR in kidney. Histopathological analysis of kidney samples also confirmed the protective values and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of herb. T. cordifolia showed protection against aflatoxin-induced nephrotoxicity due to the presence of alkaloids such as a choline, tinosporin, isocolumbin, palmatine, tetrahydropalmatine, and magnoflorine.