Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315394
Title: Phytochemicals reduce aflatoxin-induced toxicity in chicken embryos

Author
item YIN, HSIN-BAI - University Of Connecticut
item CHEN, CHI-HUNG - University Of Connecticut
item UPADHYAYA, INDU - University Of Connecticut
item DARRE, MICHAEL - University Of Connecticut
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas
item VENKITANARAYANAN, KUMAR - University Of Connecticut

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2015
Publication Date: 7/27/2015
Citation: Yin, H., Chen, C., Upadhyaya, I., Darre, M.J., Donoghue, A.M., Donoghue, D.J., Venkitanarayanan, K. 2015. Phytochemicals reduce aflatoxin-induced toxicity in chicken embryos. [abstract]. Poult. Sci. 94:141-142 (E-Suppl. 1).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins (AF) are toxic metabolites produced by molds, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasicitus, which frequently contaminate chicken feed ingredients. Ingestion of AF-contaminated feed by chickens leads to deleterious effects, including decreased chicken performance and reduced egg production. Moreover, AF residues in fertilized eggs result in huge economic losses by decreasing embryo viability and hatchability. This study investigated the efficacy of two generally recognized as safe, plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAs), namely carvacrol (CR) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), in protecting chicken embryo from AF-induced toxicity. Day-old embryonated eggs were injected with 50 ng or 75 ng AF with or without 0.1% CR or TC, followed by incubation in a hatching incubator for 18 days. Relative embryo weight, yolk sac weight, tibia weight, tibia length, and mortality were recorded on day 18 of incubation. The effect of PDAs and ethanol (diluent) on embryo viability was also determined. The experiment had five replicate samples and was repeated twice. Both PDAs significantly decreased AF-induced toxicity in chicken embryos. Carvacrol and TC increased survival of chicken embryos by at least 10% as compared to control. Moreover, CR and TC decreased relative yolk sac weight by at least 18% and 35%, and increased relative embryo weight by at least 20% and 26% when compared to eggs injected with 50 ng and 75 ng AF, respectively. The growth of embryos (tibia length and weight) was improved in PDA- treated groups as compared to embryos injected with AF alone (P<0.05). PDAs and ethanol treatments did not adversely affect embryo survival, and other measured parameters (P>0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that CR and TC impact AF-induced toxicity in chicken embryos and therefore potentially could be used as feed additive to control AF contamination in hatched chicks. However, in vivo studies are warranted to validate this hypothesis. Funded in part by the USDA-NIFA-OREI 2011-01955.