Retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol prevent DNA adduct formation in mice treated with the mycotoxins ochratoxin A and zearalenone.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN), two mycotoxins, have been implicated in numerous mycotoxicoses in farm animals and are genotoxic. Several adducts were detected in mouse and rat kidney after a single administration of OTA and in mice organs after zearalenone treatment which induces hepatocellular adenomas. The effects of some vitamins such as retinol (A), ascorbic acid (C) and alpha-tocopherol (E), which are known to act as superoxide anion scavengers, were tested on OTA genotoxicity. Pretreatment of mice by vitamin E decreased DNA adducts by 80% in kidney. Vitamin A decreased DNA adduct levels by 70% and Vitamin C by 90% in kidney. In the same way, pretreatment of female mice with alpha-tocopherol before administration of zearalenone inhibited significantly DNA adduct formation in liver and in kidney. The total DNA adduct level after E treatment was decreased by 45% and 58% in liver and kidney respectively.