Toxic and irritant effects induced by zearalenone: prevention by taurine

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine whether taurine has protective effects against both the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and oxidative effects in human lymphocytes exposed to zearalenone (ZEN) and its irritating effect in vascular formations. Results showed that ZEN significantly increased the cytotoxic, genotoxic, oxidative stress levels and it caused a moderate vascular irritation in a concentration-manner. Simultaneously treatments of taurine with ZEN significantly recovered the antioxidant status while significantly decreased the toxic and irritant effects. In conclusion, the toxic potential of ZEN was significantly blocked by taurine through the reductions in oxidative stress levels and maintaining membrane stability.

Keywords:

• Antioxidant
• anti-irritant
• lymphocyte
• oxidative stress
• taurine
• zearalenone

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).