Abstract: In order to explore the protective effect of betulinic acid (BA) on T-2 toxin-induced intestinal oxidative damage, 60 healthy male mice were randomly divided into 6 equal groups: control, T-2 toxin, low-, medium- and high-dose BA (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg mb) plus T-2, and vitamin E plus T-2. After BA was administered for 14 days, the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, and diamine oxidase (DAO) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were determined. Morphological changes in the jejunum were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H & E) staining. The results showed that BA enhanced the levels of IgG and IgM, and reduced the activity of DAO in the serum. Meanwhile, it alleviated the decrease of CAT and GSH-Px activities caused by T-2 toxin in the intestine, increased GSH content, and decreased MDA content. Therefore, BA has a protective effect on intestinal oxidative damage induced by T-2 toxin in mice by increasing humoral immunity function, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function and enhancing intestinal antioxidant capacity.

Key words: betulinic acid, T-2 toxin, intestinal mucosa, oxidative damage