Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1

Marnewick, Jeanine L.; Ali, Omeralfaroug; Sheik Abdul, Naeem; Docrat, Taskeen Fathima; Chipofya, Elias; Bristow, Paolo; Szabó, András; Schieszl, Tamás; Balogh, Krisztián; Bóta, Brigitta; Turbók, Janka; Varga-Szatmári, Viktória; Agyarko, Edward; Kovács, Melinda

doi:10.3390/antiox15020254

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Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1

by

Jeanine L. Marnewick

^1,†

,

Omeralfaroug Ali

^2,*,†

,

Naeem Sheik Abdul

³,

Taskeen Fathima Docrat

¹

,

Elias Chipofya

¹

,

Paolo Bristow

³

,

András Szabó

^2,4

,

Tamás Schieszl

⁴,

Krisztián Balogh

⁵

,

Brigitta Bóta

⁴,

Janka Turbók

⁶

,

Viktória Varga-Szatmári

⁴,

Edward Agyarko

²

and

Melinda Kovács

^2,4

¹

Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa

²

Agribiotechnology and Precision Breeding for Food Security National Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Animal Health, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary

³

Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa

⁴

HUN-REN-MATE Mycotoxins in the Food Chain Research Group, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary

⁵

Department of Feed Safety, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

⁶

Animal Health Diagnostic Department, National Food Chain Safety Office, Animal Health Diagnostic Directorate, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Antioxidants 2026, 15(2), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020254 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 8 January 2026 / Revised: 12 February 2026 / Accepted: 12 February 2026 / Published: 14 February 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Phytochemicals for Promoting Human Health and Well-Being)

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Abstract

The exploration of natural redox-modulating agents to mitigate/reduce oxidative damage triggered by toxins is a major area of interest in nutritional and pharmacological fields. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), traditionally consumed in South Africa for health benefits, was assessed for hepatoprotective effects against fumonisin B1 (FB1)-induced damage. This study involved 24 male rats (n = 6/group) that received FB1 (50 mg/kg diet equivalent, i.p. for 5 days) with or without oral exposure to unfermented (GR) or fermented (FR) rooibos extracts. Alongside somatic records, we assessed blood biochemicals, as well as liver histology, antioxidative stress markers (GSH, GPx, MDA, and carbonylation), regulatory proteins (Nrf2, Sirt3, PGC-α, TRX1, HSP70, and LONp1), inflammation (cytokines), and phospholipid fatty acid profile. Based on results, FB1 suppressed growth, compromised liver function, altered redox status, and elevated stress markers. Both rooibos extracts decreased oxidative damage (↓MDA, ↓carbonylation) and modulated stress regulators (↑Nrf2, ↓HSP70). FR uniquely increased GPx and TRX1 while decreasing IL-1β and PGC-α concentrations, whereas GR strongly increased Nrf2 and Sirt3, reflecting distinct bioactivities linked to their differing polyphenolic profiles. Neither extract compensated for FB1-induced alterations in the liver total phospholipid fatty acid profile or serum cholesterol. In conclusion, GR and FR improved redox potential and inflammatory/stress response; however, this effect was selective, as it did not translate into comprehensive hepatoprotection. These findings support the potential role of rooibos as a dietary modulator of endogenous antioxidant defenses, although clinical translational trials are needed.

Keywords: antioxidant; Aspalathus linearis; functional food; hepatoprotective; fumonisin B1; mitochondria; inflammation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Marnewick, J.L.; Ali, O.; Sheik Abdul, N.; Docrat, T.F.; Chipofya, E.; Bristow, P.; Szabó, A.; Schieszl, T.; Balogh, K.; Bóta, B.; et al. Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1. Antioxidants 2026, 15, 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020254

AMA Style

Marnewick JL, Ali O, Sheik Abdul N, Docrat TF, Chipofya E, Bristow P, Szabó A, Schieszl T, Balogh K, Bóta B, et al. Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1. Antioxidants. 2026; 15(2):254. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020254

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marnewick, Jeanine L., Omeralfaroug Ali, Naeem Sheik Abdul, Taskeen Fathima Docrat, Elias Chipofya, Paolo Bristow, András Szabó, Tamás Schieszl, Krisztián Balogh, Brigitta Bóta, and et al. 2026. "Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1" Antioxidants 15, no. 2: 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020254

APA Style

Marnewick, J. L., Ali, O., Sheik Abdul, N., Docrat, T. F., Chipofya, E., Bristow, P., Szabó, A., Schieszl, T., Balogh, K., Bóta, B., Turbók, J., Varga-Szatmári, V., Agyarko, E., & Kovács, M. (2026). Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1. Antioxidants, 15(2), 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020254

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Fermented and Unfermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Exhibit Selective Protection Against Hepatic Stress in Rats Exposed to Fumonisin B1

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