Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species of fungi which contaminate
human foods and animal feeds worldwide. In this study hepatotoxicity of ZEN was evaluated in mice by oral administration of single and repeated doses of ZEN mycotoxin (2.7 mg/kg b.w.). The protective effect of crude venom extracted from jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda was also assessed. Mice were divided into four groups (N = 10). G1: receiving the toxin once and sacrificed 48 h later, G2: toxin administered twice for one week, G3: toxin administered
twice a week for two weeks, G4: pretreated orally by a single dose of crude venom (1.78 mg/20 g) 24 hours prior to
administration of ZEN twice a week for two weeks. Each treated group had its corresponding control which received
1% DMSO saline. ZEN treatment significantly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartateaminotrnsferase
(AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities after 48 hours and two weeks, while ALT was also significantly increased after one week. Tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) level was undetected in treated and control groups except
the group treated with ZEN for one week. Alphafetoprotein (AFP) level was increased significantly only after two weeks.
The activity of antioxidants was significantly increased in all groups. ZEN was also found to modify the serum proteins
especially gamma-globulin which showed a significant decrease after 48 h and two weeks. Improvement in liver function occurred in the group pretreated with the crude venom, and AFP and antioxidants returned to normal level, while
TNF-α level was also undetected. Gamma globulin was significantly increased. The recovery observed in the group
which was pretreated with crude venom may related to bradykinin content of this venom which exhibits a hepatoprotective effect. Histological changes in mouse liver coincided with biochemical changes. In conclusion, this study revealed
that ZEN induced liver function and structural changes promising an approach for using a crude venom of jellyfish to
enhance liver function.