Protective effects of Aloe vera powder supplementation on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of egg, histopathological changes and serum biochemistry of laying hens fed by Aflatoxin B1.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Aloe vera could mitigate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on performance, serum biochemistry, and liver health in laying hens.
Results Summary
Aloe vera improved egg production, egg weight, and eggshell thickness in hens fed AFB1-contaminated diets, though not significantly. It also normalized serum biochemical markers (cholesterol, uric acid, AST, ALT) and reduced liver histopathological damage caused by AFB1.
Population
White Leghorn laying hens (Hy-Line W-36)
Effective Dosage
100 ppm and 300 ppm Aloe vera powder mixed into feed
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | decrease | egg production | laying hens | - | were lower for groups fed | #1 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | decrease | eggshell thickness | laying hens | - | were lower for groups fed | #2 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | egg production | laying hens fed AFB1 contaminated feed | not significant | were improved by incorporation of | #3 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | egg weight | laying hens fed AFB1 contaminated feed | not significant | were improved by incorporation of | #4 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | eggshell thickness | laying hens fed AFB1 contaminated feed | not significant | were improved by incorporation of | #5 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | decrease | aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | chickens | - | had significantly lower | #6 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | decrease | alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | chickens | - | had significantly lower | #7 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | decrease | uric acid | chickens | - | had significantly lower | #8 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | increase | cholesterol | chickens | - | higher | #9 |
Aloe vera powder | decrease | cholesterol | - | - | improved levels of | #10 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | uric acid | - | - | improved levels of | #11 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | - | - | improved levels of | #12 |
Aloe vera powder | increase | alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | - | - | improved levels of | #13 |
aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet | increase | histopathological changes in liver tissues | - | - | caused | #14 |
Aloe vera powder | decrease | lesions in liver | - | - | reduced the severity of | #15 |
In the recent years, the use of medicinal plants to reduce the effects of mycotoxins in foods and feeds has been considered. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aloe vera on performance, serum biochemical parameters and liver histopathology in laying hens fed on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diet. Seventy-two White Leghorns (Hy-Line W-36) were randomly allocated to four treatments. 1) basal diet (control), 2) control plus 1.00 mg kg-1 AFB1, 3) control diet plus 1.00 mg kg-1 AFB1 + 100 ppm Aloe vera powder, and 4) control diet plus 1.00 mg kg-1 AFB1 + 300 ppm Aloe vera powder. Each treatment consisted of three replicates of 6 birds. Egg weight and Haugh units were not affected by AFB1. Egg production and eggshell thickness were lower for groups fed 1.00 mg kg-1 AFB1. Egg production, egg weight and eggshell thickness were improved by incorporation of Aleo vera in the AFB1 contaminated feed but were not significant. Chickens fed AFB1 had significantly lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and uric acid and higher cholesterol than other groups. Aloe vera powder improved levels of cholesterol, uric acid, AST, and ALT. AFB1 also caused histopathological changes in liver tissues, such as vacuolar degeneration, fatty infiltration, and necrosis. The addition of Aloe vera powder to the aflatoxin containing diet reduced the severity of lesions in liver. The data demonstrated the ability of Aloe vera to reduce the adverse effects of AFB1 exposure in laying hens.