Vol. 76 (2) 2024

ARTICLES

Does Natural Clinoptilolite Induce Toxicity in Small Mammals?

Michaela Beltcheva1*, Yana Tzvetanova2, Teodora Todorova1, Liliya Tsvetanova2, Iliana Aleksieva1, Tsvetelina Gerasimova1 & Tsenka Chassovnikarova1,3

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*1Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Street, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
2Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bl. 107, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Street, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb76.2.002776

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Abstract
The study aimed to assess the safety of using modified natural clinoptilolite as a food additive for mammals. Any potential adverse impacts of altered natural clinoptilolite on the regular physiological processes of animals were evaluated. Sixty male ICR laboratory mice, aged approximately 6–8 weeks, were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Both groups underwent a 45-day testing period, during which the experimental group was given rodent food mixed with 12.5% modified natural clinoptilolite from the Beli Plast deposit, Bulgaria. Sampling was carried out on days 0, 15, 30 and 45, with each time point providing samples for morpho-physiological and haematological studies, the oxidative stress on the base of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) measurements in liver and kidney so as the assessment of gene toxicity via the micronucleus test. All animals used in the experiment survived until the end of the study, gained weight and showed good activity and vital signs. The mice supplemented with clinoptilolite showed 21% higher body weight gain compared to the control group. Furthermore, there were no established signs of gene toxicity, pathological changes in the levels of oxidative stress and haematological parameters. These results suggest that using clinoptilolite as a food supplement does not lead to observable toxicities and even improves growth performance. Owing to its elevated sorption potential, this method is appropriate for purging the mammalian organism of toxins, with negligible adverse outcomes.

Key words
clinoptilolite, mice, haematology, gene toxicity, oxidative stress

How to Cite
Beltcheva M., Tzvetanova M., Todorova T., Tsvetanova L., Aleksieva I., Gerasimova T. & Chassovnikarova T. 2024. Does Natural Clinoptilolite Induce Toxicity in Small Mammals?. Acta zoologica bulgarica 76 (2) 289-297.

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