Studies on the ameliorating effect of Eugenol (clove essential oil) on Aflatoxicosis in broiler chicken
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Date
2023-07
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LUVAS Hisar
Abstract
An experimental study was conducted on 132 broiler chicks to assess the hepatoprotective and
antioxidative potential of eugenol (clove essential oil) in broiler chicken and to evaluate the ameliorative effect of
eugenol supplementation on haemato-biochemical, oxidative stress, pathological changes and immune response in
aflatoxin administered broiler chicken. Aspergillus parasiticus MTCC 411 spores were revived on potato dextrose
agar and Cezpak yeast extract agar and used for aflatoxin production in maize and final experimental feed was
estimated to contain 184 ppb of aflatoxin. One hundred and thirty-two (132) broiler chicks at an age of 7 days were
randomly divided into 2 groups viz, Group A and Group B having 66 chicks in each group. All chicks were
vaccinated against NCDV as per standard schedule. Group A chicks were supplemented with eugenol (@ 5ml/kg)
of feed throughout the experiment. Group B chicks were kept as control and fed with basal control diet (without
eugenol). At the age of 14 days, the chicks of groups A and B were further divided into two subgroups {group A
into A1(AF+E) and A2(E); group B into B1(AF) and B2(C)} of 33 chicks each. All the chicks of group A1 and B1
were given aflatoxin (AF) @184ppb mixed with feed till the end of experiment and chicks of group B2 were fed on
basal feed and act as control i.e., without any treatment. Blood samples were collected from six chicks of each
subgroup directly from heart on 0, 7th, 14th 21st and 28th day post aflatoxin administration (DPAA) for assessing
different parameters like haematological and oxidative stress parameters in blood while biochemical parameters
and humoral immune response in serum. After collection of blood, chicks were sacrificed and detailed postmortem examination was conducted. Representative tissues of the different organs were preserved with 10 per cent
neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination. The aflatoxin administered chicks (group B1 and A1)
exhibited varying degree of clinical signs such as dullness, ruffled feathers and reduced feed intake at different
time intervals. Mean body weight was significantly decreased in groups B1 and A1 as compared to control group
(B2) at different time intervals. Haematological studies showed significant decrease in mean Hb, PCV and TEC
and non-significant decrease in MCV and MCHC in groups B1 and A1 at different time intervals. Mean TLC was
also found significantly decreased in group B1 and A1. Biochemical studies showed significant decrease in mean
total serum protein and albumin concentration and significant increase in liver function parameters like serum
AST, ALT, GGT in aflatoxin fed groups (B1 and A1) at different time interval as compared to control group B2.
Kidney function parameters like uric acid and creatinine concentration were also significantly increased in group
B1 and A1. Blood catalase and SOD activities were significantly decreased and blood LPO (nMDA) was
significantly increased in toxin fed groups as compared to control group at different time intervals. Eugenol
supplementation significantly improved the body weight and ameliorated the adverse effect of aflatoxin on
hemato-biochemical parameters and oxidative stress parameters. Immunological studies revealed significant
decrease in humoral immune response in aflatoxin administered groups as observed by reduced mean HI titre
(log2) against NDV in Group B1 and A1. Delayed type hypersensitivity study to assess CMI also revealed
significant decreased skin thickness 24 hour after DNCB application in aflatoxin administered group B1(AF) as
compared to control groups B2(C) and A2(E) while slight reduction with no significant difference was observed in
group A1(AF+E). Pathomorphological lesions characteristic of aflatoxicosis were prominent in liver, kidneys and
lymphoid organs and eugenol supplementation reduced the severity of lesions. In case of histopathology the
lesions were vacuolar, vascular, fatty, degenerative, necrotic, infiltrative and proliferative in aflatoxin intoxicated
group in different organs and were of mild nature in eugenol supplemented group A1(AF+E). Results of the
present study indicated the hepatoprotective and antioxidative potential of eugenol (@ 0.5% in feed) along with its
ameliorative effects against aflatoxin induced pathological alterations in broiler chicken