Evaluation of carvacrol in ameliorating aflatoxin induced changes with reference to growth and oxidative stress in broiler chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of supplementation of carvacrol (CL), a phytochemical, in ameliorating changes in growth performance and oxidative stress induced by aflatoxin B1 in male broiler chicken fed with maize-soy based diets. The feeding trial of five week duration was conducted with 120 chicks which were divided into 5 dietary treatments with 3 replicates having 8 chicks in each following a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of: basal diet without any supplement (G1), basal diet supplemented with 1.0% CL (G2), diet contaminated with 1.0 ppm toxin (G3), diet contaminated with 1.0 ppm toxin and supplemented with 1.0% CL (G4), and diet contaminated with 1.0 ppm toxin and supplemented with 0.5% each of CL and HSCAS (G5). The growth performance and FCR of broiler chicken supplemented with CL was poor than birds fed basal diet and AFB1 contaminated feed. The weight of liver in AFB1 group of birds showed an increase while in CL supplemented groups it was comparatively low. Activity of serum enzymes ALT, AST were observed to be high and activity of the oxidative stress marker enzymes CAT, SOD and GSR low in AFB1 group birds. A reverse trend in activity of these enzymes was obtained in CL and binder supplemented groups which was not significant in case of GSR. CL supplemented group of birds recorded higher TAC, protein and glucose and lower MDA, TC and triglyceride compared to AFB1 group birds. The severity and degree of the liver lesions obtained in microscopic observation in CL supplemented birds was far less compared to livers of birds fed aflatoxin contaminated feed. It can be concluded that CL is effective in ameliorating aflatoxin induced changes with regard to oxidative stress in broiler chickens but had no positive impact on growth performance.