Evaluation of the efficacy of esterified glucomannan, sodium bentonite, and humic acid to ameliorate the toxic effects of aflatoxin in broilers

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of esterified glucomannan, sodium bentonite, and humic acid in counteracting the toxic effects of aflatoxin in a naturally contaminated diet fed to broilers. Seven-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to 1 of the 9 dietary treatments. The treatments were as follows: 1) control; 2) naturally contaminated diet with aflatoxin; 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) naturally contaminated diet with aflatoxin supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0% humic acid, respectively; 8 and 9) naturally contaminated diet supplemented with 0.5% sodium bentonite and 0.1% esterified glucomannan, respectively. Compared with the control, the naturally contaminated diet significantly increased feed consumption and resulted in poor feed efficiency. Increased relative weights of liver and decreased relative weights of bursa of Fabricius were observed in chicks fed the naturally contaminated diet. Further, feeding a contaminated diet was associated with significant decreases in serum albumin, total protein, uric acid, and cholesterol. Compared with the control, the naturally contaminated diet significantly increased the activities of γ-glutamyl transfers, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate amino transferase. Humic acid showed protective effects on feed efficiency and against liver and bursa of Fabricius damage, as well as some of the serum enzyme activities and serum biochemical changes associated with aflatoxin toxicity. © TÜBITAK.