Hepatoprotective Effects of Vernonia amygdalina (Astereaceae) Extract on CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract (VALE) on the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity (CCl4) in broiler chickens. A total of 360-day-old broilers were divided into 4 treatments of 90 birds each consisting of 6 replicates of 15 birds each. The treatments were birds offered 1 mL/kg BW saline (control group), 100 mg/kg BW VALE, 1 mL/kg BW CCl4 (CCl4-treated group), and 100 mg/kg BW VALE + 1 mL/kg BW CCl4 (VALE + CCl4 group). Blood samples were collected at 42 days of age and analyzed for the liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and selected biochemical parameters. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design. The results obtained showed that VALE had the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of CCl4 on protein and lipid metabolism as reflected in the low serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which is a marker of lipid peroxidation. The aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight showed a moderate hepatoprotective effect by reducing serum AST levels (p < 0.05). The levels of serum AST, ALP, ALT, and GGT were significantly increased in CCl4-treated birds compared to the control group, reflecting carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. The VALE + CCl4 group showed a significantly higher amount of ALP compared to birds treated with carbon tetrachloride, suggesting a hepatoprotective effect. To conclude, Vernonia amygdalina aqueous extract can be used to confer protection against hepatotoxicity, which can induce severe hepatocellular damage in birds.

African leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extracts improve Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) carcass traits

“…This result was similar to Osho et al [26], who showed that VALE (aqueous) supplementation Means with different superscript along the same row are significantly different (p < 0.01) Means with different superscripts along the same row are significantly different (p < 0.01) (up to 2.5 g/L) did not significantly affect live weight, while Japhet and Godgift [19] reported that VALE supplementation (50 mL/L) did not significantly affect live pullet weight, but increased live broiler weight. However, Daramola et al [27] and Tokofai et al [28] reported that VALE (100 mg/kg body weight) increased 42-day-old broiler live weight. In our study, live weight was not significantly different between groups because our observations were made during laying periods.…”

The role of phytogenic feed additives in stress mitigation in broiler chickens

“…To ameliorate the negative impact of thermal stress, promote consumer health and save the environment, researchers have been inspired to investigate a number of PFA that could be employed in poultry diets (Alagawany et al, 2021;Bouassi et al, 2021). These additives comprise PFA, immunomodulators, enzymes, phytoncides and organic acids (Bouassi et al, 2021;El-Saadony, Alagawany, et al, 2021;Oke et al, 2016Oke et al, , 2017Tokofai et al, 2020Tokofai et al, , 2021Voemesse et al, 2019), essential oils (El-Tarabily et al, 2021), herbal extracts (Oke, 2018;Oke, Uyanga, et al, 2021)…”

In ovo injection of cinnamon or clove alters the physiology and growth of broilers in a hot tropical environment

“…Hence, broilers’ growth and immunity could also be enhanced when some medicinal feed additives are included in their diets during periods of heat stress. Beneficial effects of medicinal plants on chickens during stress are known ( Hossain et al, 2014 ; Chegini et al, 2018 ; Oke et al, 2021b ) as they are high in aromatic acids and flavonoid which possess antioxidant antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties ( Al-Sultan et al, 2019 ; Tokofai et al, 2021 ).…”