Protective Effect of Urtica dioica Seeds’ Extract in Experimental Chronic Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens


Authors

  • Erhan Ayna Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
  • Zübeyir Huyut Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
  • Omer Faruk Keleş Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
  • Zabit Yener Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
  • Ramazan Bal Department of Medical Physiology, Medical Faculty, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2021.256.269

Keywords:

Aflatoxicosis, anti-apoptotic activity, antioxidant activity, hepatoprotection, oxidative stress

Abstract

Background and Objective: Aflatoxins can lead to Aflatoxicosis in animals and humans. The aim of this study was to investigate hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of Urtica dioica seeds’ extract (UDSE) on chronic aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens, which were evaluated by histopathologically liver degeneration and activities/levels of the oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two broiler chickens were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control group served as a negative control and were fed with a normal diet; AFB1 group received aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (1 mg kg1 diet) for 42 days; UDSE group received UDSE (30 mL kg1 diet) for 42 days and AFB1+UDSE group received AFB1 (1 mg kg1 diet) as well as UDS extract (30 mL kg1 diet) for 42 days. Results: In the AFB1 group, activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT and the levels of TAS and BcL-2 in liver and serum were significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001), TOS and Caspase-3 levels were also significantly high (p<0.001). Whereas, in the AFB1+UDSE group, the activity of GSH-Px in liver and serum and the activities of SOD and CAT and the level of TAS in serum were significantly higher than those in AFB1 group (p<0.001). In the AFB1+UDSE group, the levels of TOS and Caspase-3 were significantly lower (p<0.001) and the level of BcL-2 were higher in both liver and serum compared to those of the AFB1 group (p<0.001). Histopathologically, diffuse hydropic degenerations, periportal fibrosis and activation of perisinusoidal myofibroblastic (Ito) cells were observed in the AFB1 group. These morphological changes were reduced significantly in the AFB1+UDSE group. Conclusion: The UDSE has a protective effect on chronic aflatoxicosis in broiler, which appear to be attributable to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity.

References

Dagne, A., 2015. Challenges and Prospects of Poultry Industry: The Case of Bahir Dar Town. GRIN Publishing, Munich, Germany, Pages: 80.

Bondy, G.S. and J.J. Pestka, 2000. Immunomodulation by fungal toxins. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Part B: Crit. Rev., 3: 109-143.

Rawal, S., J.E. Kim and R. Coulombe Jr., 2010. Aflatoxin B1 in poultry: Toxicology, metabolism and prevention Res. Vet. Sci., 89: 325-331.

Hussain, Z., M.Z. Khan and Z.U. Hassan, 2008. Production of aflatoxins from Aspergillus flavus and acute aflatoxicosis in young broiler chicks. Pak. J. Agric. Sci., 45: 95-102.

Mollenhauer, H.H., D.E. Corrier, W.E. Huff, L.F. Kubena, R.B. Harvey and R.E. Droleskey, 1989. Ultrastructure of hepatic and renal lesions in chickens fed aflatoxin. Am. J. Vet. Res., 50: 771-777.

Yu, Z., F. Wang, N. Liang, C. Wang and X. Peng et al., 2015. Effect of selenium supplementation on apoptosis and cell cycle blockage of renal cells in broilers fed a diet containing aflatoxin B1. Bio. Trace Elem. Res., 168: 242-251.

Verma, J., B.K. Swain and T.S. Johri, 2002. Effect of various levels of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A and combinations thereof on protein and energy utilisation in broilers. J. Sci. Food Agric., 82: 1412-1417.

Verma, J., T.S. Johri and B.K. Swain, 2007. Effect of aflatoxin, ochratoxin and their combination on protein and energy utilisation in white leghorn laying hens. J. Sci. Food Agric., 87: 760-764.

Han, X.Y., Q.C. Huang, W.F. Li, J.F. Jiang and Z.R. Xu, 2008. Changes in growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and nutrient digestibility of cherry valley ducks in response to aflatoxin B1 levels. Livest. Sci., 119: 216-220.

Grenier, B. and T. Applegate, 2013. Modulation of intestinal functions following mycotoxin ingestion: Meta-analysis of published experiments in animals. Toxins, 5: 396-430.

Raju, M.V.L.N. and G. Devegowda, 2000. Influence of esterified-glucomannan on performance and organ morphology, serum biochemistry and haematology in broilers exposed to individual and combined mycotoxicosis (aflatoxin, ochratoxin and T-2 toxin). Br. Poult. Sci., 41: 640-650.

Surai, P.F., 2002. Natural Antioxidants in Avian Nutrition and Reproduction. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, ISBN: 9781897676950, Pages: 616.

Ayan, A.K., Ö. ÇaliŞkan and C. Çirak, 2006. Economical importance of stinging nettle (Urtica spp.) and its cultivation. J. Fac. Agri., 21: 357-363.

Houghton, P.J., R. Zarka, B. de las Heras and J.R.S. Hoult, 1995. Fixed oil of Nigella sativa and derived thymoquinone inhibit eicosanoid generation in leukocytes and membrane lipid peroxidation. Planta Med., 61: 33-36.

Gulcin, I., O.I. Kufrevioglu, M. Oktay and M.E. Buyukokuroglu, 2004. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J. Ethnopharmacol., 90: 205-215.

Yener, Z., I. Celik, F. Ilhan and R. Bal, 2009. Effects of Urtica dioica L. seed on lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and liver pathology in aflatoxin-induced tissue injury in rats. Food Chem. Toxicol., 47: 418-424.

Balzarini, J., K.V. Laethem, S. Hatse, M. Froeyen, W. Peumans, E.V. Damme and D. Schols, 2005. Carbohydrate-binding agents cause deletions of highly conserved glycosylation sites in HIV GP120. J. Bio. Chem., 280: 41005-41014.

Chrubasik, S., W. Enderlein, R. Bauer and W. Grabner, 1997. Evidence for antirheumatic effectiveness of herba Urticae dioicae in acute arthritis: A pilot study. Phytomedicine, 4: 105-108.

Krystofova, O., V. Adam, P. Babula, J. Zehnalek, M. Beklova, L. Havel and R. Kizek, 2010. Effects of various doses of selenite on stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 7: 3804-3815.

Riehemann, K., B. Behnke and K. Schulze-Osthoff, 1999. Plant extracts from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), an antirheumatic remedy, inhibit the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB. FEEBs Lett., 442: 89-94.

Bnouham, M., F.Z. Merhfour, A. Ziyyat, H. Mekhfi, M. Aziz and A. Legssyer, 2003. Antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica. Fitoterapia, 74: 677-681.

Nassiri-Asl, M., F. Zamansoltani, E. Abbasi, M.-M. Daneshi and A.-A. Zangivand, 2009. Effects of Urtica dioica extract on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats. J. Chin. Integr. Med., 7: 428-433.

Ahangarpour, A., M. Mohammadian and M. Dianat, 2012. Antidiabetic effect of hydroalcholic Urtica dioica leaf extract in male rats with fructose-induced insulin resistance. Iran. J. Med. Sci., 37: 181-186.

Turkdogan, M.K., H. Ozbek, Z. Yener, I. Tuncer, I. Uygan and E. Ceylan, 2003. The role of Urtica dioica and Nigella sativa in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Phytotheapy Res., 17: 942-946.

Kandis, H., S. Karapolat, U. Yildirim, A. Saritas, S. Gezer and R. Memisogullari, 2010. Effects of Urtica dioica on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Clinics, 65: 1357-1361.

Mohammadi, A, B. Mansoori, S. Goldar, D. Shanehbandi and V. Khaze et al., 2016. Effects of Urtica dioica dichloromethane extract on cell apoptosis and related gene expression in human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468). Cell Mol. Biol., 62: 62-67.

Uyar, A., Z. Yener and A. Dogan, 2016. Protective effects of Urtica dioica seed extract in aflatoxicosis: Histopathological and biochemical findings. Br. Poult. Sci., 57: 235-245.

Akbay, P., A.A. Basaran, U. Undeger and N. Basaran, 2003. In vitro immunomodulatory activity of flavonoid glycosides from Urtica dioica L. Phytother. Res., 17: 34-37.

Diaz, G.J. and H.W. Murcia, 2011. Biotransformation of aflatoxin B1 and its relationship with the differential toxicological response to aflatoxin in commercial poultry species. In: Aflatoxins, Guevara-González, R.G., (Ed.). IntechOpen, Rijeka, Croatia, Pages: 20.

Diaz, G.J., H.W. Murcia and S.M. Cepeda, 2010. Bioactivation of aflatoxin B1 by Turkey liver microsomes: Responsible cytochrome P450 enzymes. Br. Poult. Sci., 51: 828-837.

Hussein, S.H. and J.M. Brasel, 2001. Toxicity, metabolism, and impact of mycotoxins on humans and animals. Toxicology, 167: 101-134.

Mishra, H.N. and C. Das, 2003. A review on biological control and metabolism of aflatoxin. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., 43: 245-264.

Bbosa, G.S., D. Kitya, J. Odda and J. Ogwal-Okeng, 2013. Aflatoxins metabolism, effects on epigenetic mechanisms and their role in carcinogenesis. Health, 05: 14-34.

Hayes, J.D., D.J. Judah, L.I. McLellan and G.E. Neal, 1991. Contribution of the glutathione s-transferases to the mechanisms of resistance to aflatoxin b1. Pharmacol. Ther., 50: 443-472.

Lozano, M.C. and G.J. Diaz, 2006. Microsomal and cytosolic biotransformation of aflatoxin B1 in four poultry species. Br. Poult. Sci., 47: 734-741.

Mughal, M.J., X. Peng, A.A. Kamboh, Y. Zhou and J. Fang, 2017. Aflatoxin B1 induced systemic toxicity in poultry and rescue effects of selenium and zinc. Bio. Trace Elem. Res., 178: 292-300.

Grant, D., M. Mendicino and G. Levy, 2001. Xenotransplantation: Just around the corner? Surgery, 129: 243-247.

Ellis, W.O., J.P. Smith, B.K. Simpson, J.H. Oldham and P.M. Scott, 1991. Aflatoxins in food: Occurrence, biosynthesis, effects on organisms, detection and methods of control. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., 30: 403-439.

Abrar, M., F.M. Anjum, M.S. Butt, I. Pasha, M.A. Randhawa, F. Saeed and K. Waqas, 2013. Aflatoxins: Biosynthesis, occurrence, toxicity and remedies. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., 53: 862-874.

Newberne, P.M. and W.H. Butler, 1969. Acute and chronic effects of aflatoxin on the liver of domestic and laboratory animals: A review. Cancer Res., 29: 236-250.

Kiran, M.M., O. Demet, M. Ortatath and H. Oguz, 1998. The preventive effect of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone on aflatoxicosis in broilers. Avian. Pathol., 27: 250-255.

Moorthy, A.S., M. Mahendar and P.R. Rao, 1986. Hepatopathology in experimental aflatoxicosis in chickens. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 55: 629-632.

Słowik, J., S. Graczyk and J.A. Madej, 1985. The effect of a single dose of aflatoxin B1 on the value of nucleolar index of blood lymphocytes and on histological changes in the liver, bursa Fabricii, suprarenal glands and spleen in ducklings. Folia Histochem. Cytobiol., 23: 71-79.

Qian, G., F. Wang, L. Tang, M.E. Massey and N.J. Mitchell et al., 2013. Integrative toxicopathological evaluation of aflatoxin B1 exposure in F344 rats. Toxicol. Pathol., 41: 1093-1105.

Enzan, H., H. Hara, H. Himeno, S. Iwamura, T. Saibara, S. Onishi and Y. Yamamoto, 1994. Immunohistochemical identification of Ito cells and their myofibroblastic transformation in adult human liver. Virchows Arch., 424: 249-256.

Malekinezhad, P., L.E. Ellestad, N. Afzali, S.H. Farhangfar, A. Omidi and A. Mohammadi, 2021. Evaluation of berberine efficacy in reducing the effects of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A added to male broiler rations. Poult. Sci., 100: 797-809.

Glahn, R.P., K.W. Beers, W.G. Bottje, R.F. Wideman, W.E. Huff and W. Thomas, 1991. Aflatoxicosis alters avian renal function, calcium and vitamin D metabolism. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 34: 309-321.

Schell, T.C., M.D. Lindemann, E.T. Kornegay and D.J. Blodgett, 1993. Effects of feeding aflatoxin-contaminated diets with and without clay to weanling and growing pigs on performance, liver function, and mineral metabolism. J. Anim. Sci., 71: 1209-1218.

Miazzo, R., C.A.R. Rosa, E.C.D.Q. Carvalho, C. Magnoli and S.M. Chiacchiera et al., 2000. Efficacy of synthetic zeolite to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin in broiler chicks. Poult. Sci., 79: 1-6.

Amsted, P., A. Levy, I. Emerit and P. Cerutti, 1984. Evidence for membrane-mediated chromosomal damage by AFB 1 in human lymphocytes. Carcinogenesis, 5: 719-723.

Mehrzad, J., G. Klein, J. Kamphues, P. Wolf, N. Grabowski and H.J. Schuberth, 2011. In vitro effects of very low levels of aflatoxin B1 on free radicals production and bactericidal activity of bovine blood neutrophils. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol., 141: 16-25.

Shen, H.M., C.Y. Shi, H.P. Lee and C.N. Ong, 1994. Aflatoxin B1-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver. Toxicol. Applied Pharmacol., 127: 145-150.

Rastogi, R., A.K. Srivastava and A.K. Rastogi, 2001. Biochemical changes induced in liver and serum of aflatoxin B1-treated male wistar rats: Preventive effect of picroliv. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 88: 53-58.

Nixon, J.E., J.D. Hendricks, N.E. Pawloswki, P.M. Loveland and R.O. Sinnhuber, 1981. Carcinogenicity of aflatoxlcol in Fischer 344 rats. J. Nat. Cancer Inst., 66: 1159-1163.

Erboga, M., Y.B. Donmez, U. Sener, Z.F. Erboga, C. Aktas and M. Kanter, 2016. Effect of Urtica dioica against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats through suppression of histological damage, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Electron. J. Gen. Med., 13: 139-144.

Vajic, U.J., J. Grujic-Milanovic, Z. Miloradovic, D. Jovovic and M. Ivanov et al., 2018. Urtica dioica L. leaf extract modulates blood pressure and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Phytomed., 46: 39-45.

Joshi, B.C., A. Prakash and A.N. Kalia, 2015. Hepatoprotective potential of antioxidant potent fraction from Urtica dioica linn. (whole plant) in CCL4 challenged rats. Toxicol. Rep., 2: 1101-1110.

Bitiren, M., D. Musa, A. Ozgonul, M. Ozaslan and A. Kocyigit et al., 2010. Protective effects of green tea (Camelia sinensis), Hypericum perforatum and Urtica dioica on hepatic injury and lymphocyte DNA damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in wistar rats. Int. J. Pharmacol., 6: 241-248.

Terzi̇, A., F. Yildiz, S. Çoban, A. Taşkin, M. Bi̇ti̇ren and N. Aksoy, 2010. Protective effect of Urtica dioica on liver injury induced by hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. DÜZCE Med. J., 12: 43-47.

Sharifi, S., J. Barar, M.S. Hejazi and N. Samadi, 2015. Doxorubicin changes Bax /Bcl-xL ratio, caspase-8 and 9 in breast cancer cells. Adv. Pharm. Bull., 5: 351-359.

Aboutaleb, N., N. Shamsaei, M. Khaksari, S. Erfani, H. Rajabi and F. Nikbakht, 2015. Pre-ischemic exercise reduces apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 cells after cerebral ischemia by modulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 proteins ratio and prevention of caspase-3 activation. J. Physiol. Sci., 65: 435-443.

Liu, Q., T. Si, X. Xu, F. Liang, L. Wang and S. Pan, 2015. Electromagnetic radiation at 900 MHz induces sperm apoptosis through Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 signaling pathways in rats. Reprod. Health, Vol. 12.

Downloads

Published

2021-06-15

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Ayna, E., Huyut, Z., Keleş, O. F., Yener , Z., & Bal, R. (2021). Protective Effect of Urtica dioica Seeds&rsquo; Extract in Experimental Chronic Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens. International Journal of Poultry Science, 20(6), 256–269. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2021.256.269