Can the Inclusion of a Vegetable Biocholine Additive in Pig Feed Contaminated with Aflatoxin Reduce Toxicological Impacts on Animal Health and Performance?

Abstract

(1) Background: This study’s objective was to determine whether adding vegetable biocholine (VB) to pigs’ diets would minimize the negative effects caused by daily aflatoxin (B1 + B2) intake. (2) Methods: We used seventy-two whole male pigs weaned at an average of 26 days and divided them into four groups with six replicates each (2 × 2 factorial). The treatments were identified as Afla0VB0 (negative control, without aflatoxin and without VB); Afla500VB0 (positive control, 500 µg/kg of aflatoxins; Afla0VB800 (800 mg/kg of VB); and Afla500VB800 (500 µg/kg of aflatoxin +800 mg/kg of VB). (3) Results: In the first 20 days of the experiment, only the pigs from Afla500VB0 had less weight gain and less feed consumption, different from the 30th to 40th day, when all treatments had lower performance than the negative control. In the liver, higher levels of oxygen-reactive species and lipid peroxidation were observed in Afla500VB0, associated with greater activity of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. In the jejunum, oxidative stress was associated with nitrous stress in Afla500VB0. An increase in splenic glutathione S-transferase activity in the Afla500VB800 animals was observed. (4) Conclusions: Consuming a diet contaminated with 500 µg/kg of aflatoxin influences the health and performance in the nursing phase in a silent way; however, it generates high economic losses for producers. When VB was added to the pigs’ diet in the face of an aflatoxin challenge, it showed hepatoprotective potential.

A Polyherbal Mixture with Nutraceutical Properties for Ruminants: A Meta-Analysis and Review of BioCholine Powder

“…Some secondary metabolites found in BioCholine have antimicrobial effects [ 19 , 20 , 63 ] that may give it resistance to ruminal degradation of choline conjugates. Mendoza et al [ 19 ] analyzed the volatile compounds of the mixture by flash gas chromatography electronic nose.…”

“…The supplier of the polyherbal reports content of choline conjugates between 1.76 and 1.8%, a higher value than that reported by Leal et al [ 43 ] of 0.978% analyzed with High-performance Thin Layer Chromatography, with total phospholipids of 1.68%. Dazuk et al [ 63 ], using high-performance thin-layer chromatography, reported phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and 16.1% PTCho natural choline conjugates. The polyherbal has other metabolites that can affect the rumen microbiota and the metabolism of ruminants.…”

“…Roque-Jiménez et al [ 20 ] detected the presence of compounds containing methyl groups, such as hexadecenoic acid methyl ester (C16:0) and octadecenoic acid methyl ester (C18:1 cis-9; C18:1 cis-8), related to the methylation status of DNA. BioCholine also contains tannins and flavonoids [ 63 ].…”

“…It is not an herb spice extract, so it preserves other active molecules (some with greater predominance) and nutrients (or precursors) that explain the biological effects observed in supplemented animals [62]. Some secondary metabolites found in BioCholine have antimicrobial effects [19,20,63] that may give it resistance to ruminal degradation of choline conjugates. Mendoza et al [19] analyzed the volatile compounds of the mixture by flash gas chromatography electronic nose.…”

AFB1 Toxicity in Human Food and Animal Feed Consumption: A Review of Experimental Treatments and Preventive Measures

“…The functional screen identified an inhibitor to BACH1, called 1-Piperazineethanol, α-[(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yloxy)methyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl) (M2), whose administration improved weight loss and liver injury in vivo in pigs [44]. The hepato-protective potential of another beneficial substance was confirmed when vegetable choline was added to counteract AFB1 in pig feed to alleviate liver damage at a dose of 800 mg/kg applied to the feed base mix [45].…”