EFFECTS OF TAMOXIFEN, MELATONIN, COENZYME Q(10), AND L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON BACTERIAL-GROWTH IN THE PRESENCE OF MYCOTOXINS

The involvement of toxic oxygen intermediates in the bacteriostatic ef fects of mycotoxins. (T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, aflatox in B-1, and fumonisin B-1) was investigated by producing bacterial gro wth curves using turbidimetry assays in the presence and absence of ox ygen radical-scavenging substances. The strains used in this study inc luded Escherichia coli (FT 101), Streptococcus agalactiae (FT 311, FT 313, FT 315), Staphylococcus aureus (FT 192), Yersinia enterocolitica (FT 430), Salmonella infantis (FT 431), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae ( FT 432), Lactobacillus plantarum (FT234) and Lactobacillus casei (FT 2 32). Tamoxifen, melatonin, L-carnitine and coenzyme Q(10) were, used a s radical scavengers against oxygen toxicity to the strains studied. T amoxifen was the most effective in inhibiting bacterial growth when us ed at a high concentration, whereas melatonin and L-carnitine were les s effective. A combination of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q(10) provided better protection against oxygen toxicity caused by the mycotoxins gro wth than they did individually. It was concluded that oxygen radicals are involved in the killing of bacteria and that there is endogenous f ormation of toxic oxygen products by mycotoxins. The objective of this study was to determine whether the antioxidants were able to countera ct the toxic effects of the mycotoxins. The data obtained indicate tha t bacterial growth can be inhibited especially by T-2 toxin, aflatoxin B-1 and ochratoxin A and that this effect can be partially counteract ed by antioxidants such as coenzyme Q(10) plus L-carnitine. (C) 1998 T he Italian Pharmacological Society.