Clinicopathological studies on aflatoxicosis induced hepatotoxicity in broilers and evaluation of hepatoprotective effects of polyherbal supplement

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Department of Livestock Production and Management, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bengaluru to evaluate the efficacy of a polyherbal formulation (Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Phyllanthus amarus and Solanum nigrum) against aflatoxicosis in broilers. A total of 450 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into five treatment groups with six replicates of 15 birds each. The treatments included T1 (negative control), T2 (aflatoxin @ 1 ppm), T3 (aflatoxin + toxin binder @ 1000 g/ton), T4 (aflatoxin + toxin binder + polyherbal supplement @ 500 g/ton), and T5 (aflatoxin + toxin binder + polyherbal supplement @ 1000 g/ton). Feeding of aflatoxin-contaminated diets (T2) induced clinical signs such as lethargy, poor growth, inappetence, and ruffled feathers along with anemia, elevated hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP), renal dysfunction (BUN, creatinine), suppressed antibody titres against NDV and IBDV, reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase), increased lipid peroxidation (MDA) and gross as well as histopathological lesions in liver, kidney and lymphoid organs. Supplementation with toxin binder and polyherbal formulation (T3-T5) significantly mitigated these adverse effects, with T5 showing the maximum protective effect. The improvement was evident through normalized hematological and biochemical parameters, restoration of antioxidant status, enhanced immune response and reduced organ lesions. These findings suggested that the tested polyherbal formulation is safe and effective, offering hepatoprotective, renal protective, antioxidant and immune protective benefits. This formulation may serve as a natural alternative to conventional binders in commercial broiler production.