Efficacy of Organo-Modified Nano Montmorillonite to Protect against the Cumulative Health Risk of Aflatoxin B<sub>1</sub> and Ochratoxin A in Rats

The aim of the current study was to prepare organo-modified nano montmorillonite (OMNM) and to evaluate its chemopreventive effects against the hapatonephrotoxicity induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OA) singly or in combination in rats. OMNM was prepared using Cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) as organic modifier. Eighty male Sprague Dawley were divided into 8 groups and treated for 8 weeks as follow: the control group; the group treated orally with AFB1 (80 μg/kg b.w.); the group treated with OA (100 μg/kg b.w.); the group treated with AFB1 plus OA, the group treated with OMNM (5 g/kg diet) and the groups treated with AFB1 and/or OA plus OMNM. At the end of treatment period, blood and tissue samples were collected from all animals for biochemical and histological analysis. The results revealed that the expansion in the basal spacing of the montmorillonite due to the intercalation of CTAB was 7.20 Å and the average particle size of OMNM was 120 nm. The in vivo results indicated that treatment with both AFB1 and OA singly or in combination resulted in a significant increase in liver and kidney function parameters, oxidative stress and tumor markers accompanied with a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities and significant histological changes in liver and kidney tissues. These changes were severe in the group received the combined treatment of AFB1 and OA. OMNM alone did not show any toxic effect and it succeeded to prevent or at least diminish the toxic effects and the histological changes in liver and kidney. It can be concluded that treatment with AFB1 and OA has a synergistic toxic effects and OMNM is safe and it is a promise candidate as an additive to protect against the exposure to multi-mycotoxins in high risk population.