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 B۱

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 B۱ (AFB۱)-contaminated diet. Seventy-two White Leghorns (Hy-Line W-۳۶) were randomly allocated to four treatments. ۱) basal diet (control), ۲) control plus ۱.۰۰ mg kg-۱ AFB۱, ۳) control diet plus ۱.۰۰ mg kg-۱ AFB۱ + ۱۰۰ ppm Aloe vera powder, and ۴) control diet plus ۱.۰۰ mg kg-۱ AFB۱ + ۳۰۰ ppm Aloe vera powder. Each treatment consisted of three replicates of ۶ birds. Egg weight and Haugh units were not affected by AFB۱. Egg production and eggshell thickness were lower for groups fed ۱.۰۰ mg kg-۱ AFB۱. Egg production, egg weight and eggshell thickness were improved by incorporation of Aleo vera in the AFB۱ contaminated feed but were not significant. Chickens fed AFB۱ 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. AFB۱ 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 AFB۱ exposure in laying hens.

Keywords:

Aflatoxin B۱ , Aloe vera , egg , Laying hens , Liver