Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The proposed animal experiments have been completed. The effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and turmeric (TCMN) on growth parameters, clinical and histopathological parameters have been evaluated as presented below. Additional analyses including anti-oxidant gene expression and measurement of antioxidant activity parameters are currently being measured. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Aflatoxins (AF) are contaminants of feed ingredients used in livestock rations and in human food and are produced by the fungi Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most potent among the AFs, has been shown to cause feed refusal, decreased feed efficiency, impaired reproduction, immune suppression, jaundice, and hepatitis/cirrhosis of the liver in pigs (Newberne, 1973; Robens and Richard, 1992). AFB1 also increases free radical production, leading to oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation which might ultimately lead to cell damage and death (Surai, 2002). The yellowish pigments of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder (TMP), referred to as total curcuminoids (TCMN) have been shown to have antioxidant properties (Soni et al., 1997) and to inhibit biotransformation of the AFs to their epoxide derivatives (Lee et al., 2001). The antioxidant properties of TCMN suggest that they may be able to prevent or reduce the toxic effects of aflatoxins (Galvano et al., 2001). Aim: To determine if curcuminoids from turmeric would prevent or reduce the toxic effects of AFB1 in weanling pigs fed dietary treatments for 21 days. Results and Discussion: Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were reduced (P less than 0.05) by AFB1 but were not affected (P greater than 0.05) by TCMN. No AFB1 by TCMN interactions (P greater than 0.05) were observed for FI or BWG. There was, however, a significant AFB1 by TCMN interaction (P less than 0.05) observed for feed efficiency (G:F). TCMN decreased G:F in pigs fed no AFB1, had no effect in pigs fed 0.5 mg AFB1/kg diet, but increased G:F in pigs fed 1 mg AFB1/kg diet. Relative kidney weights were not affected (P greater than 0.05) by dietary treatments. In contrast, relative liver weights increased (P less than 0.05) in pigs fed AFB1 and in pigs fed TCMN. No AFB1 by TCMN interactions (P greater than 0.05) were observed for relative kidney or relative liver weight. Serum concentrations of urinary nitrogen, creatinine, Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, albumen, globulin, total protein, GGT and CPK were not affected (P greater than 0.05) by dietary treatments. Serum AST was increased in pigs fed AF (P less than 0.05), as compared with controls, but was not affected (P greater than 0.05) by TCMN. There appeared to be a subtle increase in hepatocyte vacuolation associated with AF exposure. Results of this study are in contrast to previous study with broilers (Gowda et al., 2009) in which TCMN reduced the negative effects of AFB1 on broiler performance, serum chemistries, and liver weight. Possible explanations for the contrasting results may include species differences and the concentration of TCMN used in the current study (220 mg/kg diet), which was selected based on its efficacy in broilers. Major Findings: Dietary concentrations of AF as low as 0.5 mg/kg diet depressed growth performance of weanling pigs. TCMN from turmeric at 220 mg/kg diet was only marginally effective in preventing or reducing the toxic effects of AFB1.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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