Consumption of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminated feed by poultry affects the health of broiler birds causing severe economic losses. The use of phytochemicals is a safe, effective, alternative and practical approach to combat the toxic effect of AF in broilers. Resveratrol, a polyphenol derived from red grapes, berries and peanuts, exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. Our study was aimed at evaluating the possible protective effects of resveratrol against the adverse effects of AFB1 in broiler birds. A feeding trial of 42 days of duration was undertaken in a completely randomized design with five dietary treatments: G1-AFB1(1.0 ppm); G2-CTR (basal diet alone); G3-AFB1(1.0 ppm)+Resv 0.5%; G4-AFB1(1.0 ppm)+Resv 1%; and G5-Resv 1%. Gain in body weight (BWG) and feed intake (FI) was observed to be highest (p < 0.05) in the AFB1 birds followed by the control group. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in G2-CTR birds and failed to record any significant variation (p > 0.05) between groups as well as within groups. Birds fed resveratrol at both 0.5% and 1.0% levels in combination with AFB1 as well as alone along with basal diet had lower BWG and FI between the fourth and fifth week and also at the fifth week (p < 0.05). No variation (p > 0.05) was obtained in the FCR of AFB1 and resveratrol group of broiler birds. AFB1 feeding significantly increased the activities of aspartate-(AST) and alanine-(ALT) amino transferase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities (p < 0.05) but lowered glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum. Supplementation of resveratrol helped in increasing the activities of the oxidative enzymes and in improving the plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and total protein (TP) significantly (p < 0.05) and protein values. The livers of AFB1 group showed degeneration of hepatocytes, bile duct hyperplasia and microgranuloma formation. In resveratrol supplemented birds, the severity and degree of the liver lesions was far less. Apoptotic proteins failed to show any variation in expression between AFB1, control and resveratrol group of birds. The inclusion of resveratrol in broiler diets enhanced antioxidant status of birds indicating the protective effect of resveratrol against AFB1-induced toxicity. So, we advice use of resveratrol as a feed additive to control aflatoxicosis in poultry farms.

No abstract

Background: Fungal laccases have widespread application in a number of biotechnological processes including the biodegradation of lignin. Their low yield in the native state limits their practical use in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass for feeding ruminants. Enzymes in bulk quantities are required to treat biomass which has got greater product consistency and less lot to lot variations. The present study was an attempt to evaluate the effect of feeding finger millet straw treated with exogenous laccases in heifers.Methods: The effect of feeding exogenous laccases obtained from immobilized Schizophyllum commune (MTCC 11893) on body weight gain, dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility in heifers was evaluated in three groups of heifers (4-each) with body weights ranging between 275 ± 47.12 to 276.75 ± 64.48kg. The control group received ad lib. finger millet straw treated with only production media (GI). Test group 1 (GII) received ad lib. straw treated with laccase rich media in a 3:5 (w/v) ratio, while test group 2 (GIII) received ad lib. straw treated in a 4:5 (w/v) ratio. Result: After 14- days of feeding, gain in body weights for GI, GII and GIII were 277.9 ± 68.47; 277.50 ± 46.43 and 278.85 ± 37.22 respectively with an overall increase of 1.15, 4.25 and 3.60 kgs. No significant variation (P greater than 0.05) was observed with regard to DMD (%) between the groups which was 46 ± 5.8 for the control animals and 41±13.0 and 41± 3.4 in G2 and G3 groups. Though significant variations were observed digestibility studies proved inconclusive. Though preliminary results indicate that applying lignin degrading enzymes as feed supplements could enhance digestibility of crop residues in ruminants.