Effects of harmane on growth and in vivo metabolism of aflatoxin B₁ in male and female rats

Abstract

The role of harmane, a β‐carboline formed during pyrolysis of tryptophan, on the metabolism of AFB₁, growth and some parameters of the nutritional status was investigated in the rat. Male and female Wistar rats were fed a semi‐synthetic diet containing AFB₁ (2 ppm), harmane (250 ppm) or both compounds, for 33 days after weaning. Qualitative and quantitative differences in the urinary and faecal excretion of parental compound and metabolites were assessed by HPLC analysis.

Harmane did not modify appreciably the growth and the other nutritional parameters studied. Similar excretion patterns of AFB₁ metabolites were observed in males and females. Harmane caused a limited increase in the excretion of AFM₁ in faeces but not in urine, without altering the growth process in rats of either sex.

Keywords:

• Harmane
• aflatoxin B₁
• metabolism
• growth
• rat