The interaction of aflatoxin B1 with vitamin K, phenylbutazone, and sulfamethoxine in rats.

The interactions of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) with vitamin K, phenylbutazone, and sulfamethoxine were investigated in albino rats. Vitamin K (5 mg/kg) was able to completely suppress the increase in whole blood clotting time caused by AFB1 (25 micrograms/kg). Phenylbutazone (50 mg/kg) and sulfamethoxine (50 mg/kg) also significantly (P less than 0.05) lowered the increased clotting time caused by AFB1. Equilibrium dialysis was performed on rat plasma (4 mg/ml protein content) to investigate the displacement of AFB1 (3 micrograms) from its bound form by vitamin K (250 micrograms), phenylbutazone (2500 micrograms), and sulfamethoxine (2500 micrograms). Phenylbutazone and sulfamethoxine significantly (P less than 0.05) displaced AFB1 from rat plasma protein. Histopathological examinations performed on the liver, kidneys, and spleen of control and treated rats showed that none of the drugs used appeared to offer any significant organ protection against AFB1 except in the spleen.