Possible roles of diphenhydramine, triazolam, diltiazem, and ketotifen in protection against T-2 toxin toxicity

The efficacy of diphenhydramine, triazolam, diltiazem, and ketotifen on the acute toxicity of T-2 toxin, a potent cytotoxic trichothecene mycotoxin, was investigated. Mice were received triazolam (20 or 40 mg/kg, sc), diltiazem (5 mg/kg, sc), or diphenhydramine (50 mg/kg, sc) 24, 18, 1 hr before and 6 hr after injection of T-2 toxin (1.8 mg/kg, ip). In other experiments, mice were either administered ketotifen (70 mg/kg, sc) 13, 7, 1 hr before and 5 hr after T-2 toxin (1.8 mg/kg, ip) or ketotifen (40 or 70 mg/kg, ip) 4 hr before T-2 toxin (1.8 mg/kg, ip). The acute lethal toxicity and change in body and organ weights (including liver, spleen, and kidneys) were evaluated. Among these drugs, only diphenhydramine prolonged the survival times. When mice received ketotifen (70 mg/kg, sc) 13, 7, 1 hr before and 5 hr after T-2 toxin (1.8 mg/kg, ip), it caused a protective effect against T-2 toxin-induced splenomegally and weight change. Triazolam (20 or 40 mg/kg, sc) also produced a protective effect against T-2 toxin-induced weight change. It is concluded that antihistamines might have some protective effects against acute T-2 toxin toxicity..