Biochemical studies on the role of lycopene in the protection of mice against microcystin toxicity

The presence of cyanobacterial toxins in drinking and recreational waters represents a potential risk to public health. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a potent cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxin produced by the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa. Chemoprotectant studies suggest that membrane-active antioxidants may offer a protection against microcystin toxicity. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of dietary supplementation of lycopene as antioxidants on microcystin toxicity in mouse liver. A group of Balb/c was pre-treated for 2 weeks with lycopene (10 mg/mouse/d) before an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of MC-LR. The potential benefits of lycopene were evaluated based on lipid peroxidation, alanine transaminase (ALT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels. Therefore, lycopene supplied as a dietary supplement may have a protective effect against chronic exposure to MC-LR.