Protective effects of baicalin against deoxynivalenol-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in chicken-derived hepatic 3D cell cultures

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a trichothecene mycotoxin often contaminating grains used in poultry feed production and causing several adverse effects in farm animals. Therefore, it is important to investigate compounds that can be potential candidates to mitigate these effects, such as baicalin. The effects of DON and baicalin were investigated in chicken-derived 3D hepatic cell cultures, and cell viability, LDH activity, oxidative parameters (NRF-2, 8-OHdG) and inflammatory parameters (IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ) were monitored for 24 and 48 h. Our results suggest that DON reduced cellular metabolic activity but did not prove to be cytotoxic, and baicalin was able to attenuate this adverse effect. The change in extracellular LDH activity suggests that after 48 h the cells have already started to respond to the adverse effects of the toxin and protective mechanisms were induced. Based on the measured oxidative parameters, baicalin showed antioxidant activity, but after longer exposure, our results indicate a prooxidant effect. Baicalin also had an anti-inflammatory effect based on the amount of IL-6 and IL-8, while DON exerted a dose-and time-dependent pleiotropic activity. These results suggest that DON may have an impact on cellular inflammation and oxidative homeostasis, and that baicalin could be able to alleviate these adverse effects.