Comparative effects of antioxidants on the toxicity of mixed pyrrolizidine alkaloids fromSenecio jacobaeain mice

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Abstract
The comparative effects of the antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), ethoxyquin and cysteine on pyrrolizidine alkaloid[PA]-induced lethality and acute hepatotoxicity were assessed in female mice. Diets containing 0.75% BHA, 0.25% ethoxyquin or 1% cysteine were fed to mice for 10 d [days] before the i.p. administration of mixed PA from S. jacobaea (tansy ragwort), 280 mg/kg. Without the dietary antioxidants, the PA produced 100% mortality in 24 h. The BHA and ethoxyquin diets were completely and partially protective, respectively, against the PA-induced lethality. The deaths were associated with severe hemorrhagic lesions in liver with or without hepatocytic necrosis. Both BHA and ethoxyquin significantly reduced the incidence of the hemorrhagic lesions but not the hepatic necrosis. Cysteine had no significant effect on either mortality or the liver lesions induced by the mixed PA. Dietary antioxidants apparently have differential protective effects against lethality and acute hepatotoxicity induced by mixed PA from tansy ragwort.