Protective effects of lycopene against zearalenone-induced reproductive toxicity in early pregnancy through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects

Food Chem Toxicol. 2023 Jul 8:113936. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113936. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTZearalenone is a mycotoxin that is widely present in feed and raw materials and can cause severe reproductive toxicity. Lycopene is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects, but the protective effects of lycopene against zearalenone-induced uterine damage have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of lycopene treatment in early pregnancy on zearalenone-induced uterine damage and pregnancy impairment and its mechanism. Reproductive toxicity was induced by consecutive gavages of zearalenone at 5 mg/kg body weight during gestational days (GDs) 0-10 and in the presence or absence of oral administration of lycopene (20 mg/kg BW). The results showed that lycopene may alleviate zearalenone-induced pathological uterine histological damage and disturbances in oestradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Lycopene increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) production, providing protection against zearalenone-induced oxidative stress in the uterus. Additionally, lycopene significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and elevated levels of the anti-inflammatory factor interleukin 10 (IL-10), inh...
Source: Food and Chemical Toxicology - Category: Food Science Authors: Source Type: research