Effect of plant extracts derived from thyme and chamomile on the growth performance, gut morphology and immune system of broilers fed aflatoxin B₁ and ochratoxin A contaminated diets

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of chamomile flower extract (CFE) and thymeoil extract (TOE) for the preventing effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B 1 (AFB) in broiler productivity, biochemical parameters, gut morphology and immune response of broilers. The experiment was conducted as a 3 Â 4 factorial arrangement, being the factors: phytogenic additives (control, 3 g/kg diet of CFE, or 3 g/kg diet of TOE) and dietary contaminated diets (none, 0.50 mg/kg diet of AFB, 0.25 mg/kg diet of OTA, or 0.50 mg/kg diet of AFB þ 0.25 mg/kg diet of OTA). Each of the 12 dietary treatments was fed to six replicate pens (10 birds/pen) from 0 to 28 d of age. Inclusion of phytogenic additives increased average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) from day 11 to 28 and day 0 to 28 in the birds fed OTA-AFB toxin diets. Significantly increased levels of HDL, IgG, IgM and anti-Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody titre were observed in the two essential oil-treated groups when compared with the control group. When compared with the control, relative weights of gizzard, liver and pancreas were significantly higher for broilers fed diets containing OTA alone. The results indicated that OTA and AFB toxins, alone or in combination, reduced villous height (VH) and ratio of VH to crypt depth in the jejunum. The levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and plasma immunoglobulin, as well as NDV antibody titre were significantly decreased by AFB-OTA toxin combination. In summary, the combination of OTA and AFB impaired chick immune function even at combined concentrations as low as 0.25 mg/kg diet of OTA and 0.50 mg/kg diet of AFB. The inclusion of TOE and CFE can be an alternative to ameliorate the adverse effects of low doses of AFB and OTA in broiler diets. HIGHLIGHTSOchratoxin A and aflatoxin B 1 , alone or in combination, affect negatively productive performance and immune function. Dietary inclusion of chamomile flower extract (CFE) and thyme-oil extract (TOE) had positive effects on growth performance and immune response. Addition of CFE and TOE to diets can ameliorate the adverse effects of mycotoxins in broiler diets. ARTICLE HISTORY

Mitigation of Aflatoxin B1 Hepatoxicity by Dietary Hedyotis diffusa Is Associated with Activation of NRF2/ARE Signaling in Chicks

“…The current study showed that HD was able to mitigate hepatotoxicity induced by AFB 1 in broilers. Birds that consumed AFB 1 diets exhibited a reduction in final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and gain/feed of broilers, all of which remain in agreement with previous studies [13,31,32]. This poor growth performance could be related to anorexia and inhibition of lipogenesis and protein synthesis [32,33].…”

“…Lately, the use of natural active biological compounds derived from plants has been attracting more attention. Some metabolites of herbs have been proven to be an effective alternative that can ameliorate the adverse effects of AFB 1 in broiler diets [11][12][13].…”

Phenolic compounds as natural feed additives in poultry and swine diets: a review

“…Dietary supplementation of saponins, phenolic compounds originated from soapnut ( Sapindus mukorossi ) at 150 mg/kg could improve the cell-mediated and humoral immune response of broilers without adverse effects on optimum body weight [ 87 ]. Inclusion of thyme essential oil at 3 g/kg could improve serum IgG, IgA, antibody titer against ND vaccine in broilers and could eliminate the adverse effects of ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B 1 in broiler diets [ 88 ]. In broilers challenged with LPS, dietary supplementation of carvacrol essential oils as phenolic compound at 200 μL/L could prevent the expression of inflammatory cytokines that ensured the anti-inflammatory role of carvacrol in broilers [ 89 ].…”

Mycotoxins in Feed and Food and the Role of Ozone in Their Detoxification and Degradation: An Update

“…Nazarizadeh et al [ 49 ] described a precision livestock farming system for a real time monitoring of animals’ health status in order to enhance the safety of the meat chain. The use of a low-cost multispectral sorter was used to select and remove the maize kernels which were contaminated by aflatoxins and fumonisins in Kenya (the machine was calibrated by building a mathematical model relating reflectance at nine distinct wavelengths (470–1550 nm) to mycotoxin levels of single kernels [ 50 ]).…”