Turmeric Powder Counteracts Oxidative Stress and Reduces AFB1 Content in the Liver of Broilers Exposed to the EU Maximum Levels of the Mycotoxin

Abstract

The most frequent adverse effects of AFB1 in chicken are low performance, the depression of the immune system, and a reduced quality of both eggs and meat, leading to economic losses. Since oxidative stress plays a major role in AFB1 toxicity, natural products are increasingly being used as an alternative to mineral binders to tackle AFB1 toxicosis in farm animals. In this study, an in vivo trial was performed by exposing broilers for 10 days to AFB1 at dietary concentrations approaching the maximum limits set by the EU (0.02 mg/kg feed) in the presence or absence of turmeric powder (TP) (included in the feed at 400 mg/kg). The aims were to evaluate (i) the effects of AFB1 on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant parameters, histology, and the expression of drug transporters and biotransformation enzymes in the liver; (ii) the hepatic accumulation of AFB1 and its main metabolites (assessed using an in-house-validated HPLC-FLD method); (iii) the possible modulation of the above parameters elicited by TP. Broilers exposed to AFB1 alone displayed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver, which was completely reverted by the concomitant administration of TP. Although no changes in glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were detected in any treatment group, AFB1 significantly upregulated and downregulated the mRNA expression of CYP2A6 and Nrf2, respectively. TP counteracted such negative effects and increased the hepatic gene expression of selected antioxidant enzymes (i.e., CAT and SOD2) and drug transporters (i.e., ABCG2), which were further enhanced in combination with AFB1. Moreover, both AFB1 and TP increased the mRNA levels of ABCC2 and ABCG2 in the duodenum. The latter changes might be implicated in the decrease in hepatic AFB1 to undetectable levels (<LOD) in the TP supplemented group. Overall, our findings further support the use of TP as an effective feeding strategy to prevent AFB1-related adverse effects in broilers.

Natural feed additives and bioactive supplements versus chemical additives as a safe and practical approach to combat foodborne mycotoxicoses

“…Having in mind that oxidative stress plays a major role in AFB1 toxicity, natural products such as turmeric powder are increasingly being used as an alternative to mineral binders to ameliorate AFB1 toxicosis in farm animals or poultry ( 150 ). It was found that broilers exposed for 10 days to AFB1 at dietary levels of 0.02 mg/kg feed showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver, which was completely reverted by the concomitant administration of turmeric powder given at feed levels of 400 mg/kg.…”

“…It was experimentally proved that turmeric powder counteracted such negative effects and simultaneously increased the hepatic gene expression of some antioxidant enzymes (e.g., CAT and SOD2) and decreased the liver content of AFB1 to undetectable levels. The authors suggested that turmeric powder could be an effective feeding strategy to ameliorate AFB1 related adverse effects in broilers ( 150 ).…”

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

“…Turmeric powder was proven to relieve AFB1-induced toxicity in broiler chicken, increase the expression of CYP2A6 mRNA transcript, and reduce the expression of NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf-2) transcript. The expression of AFB1 was decreased by turmeric powder, by mechanisms including enhancement of the expression of ABCG2 mRNA in the duodenum [50]. AFB1 is known to cause damage to the immune system and spleen, and the protective role of the Penthorum chinese Pursh compound (PCPC) in this condition was reported to be preventive and medicinal acting via the JAK/STAT pathway of cell death in the spleen of broiler chicken [51].…”