Evaluating the Effects of Including Vitamin C and Parquetina nigrescens Leaf Powder in the Diets of Broiler Chicks Exposed to Aflatoxin B1

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of dietary vitamin C and Parquetina nigrescens leaf powder (PLP) in broiler chicks exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The treatments consisted of CONT (receiving a diet without AFB1 contamination and without PLP supplementation); AFLB (fed a diet containing 0.2 mg of AFB1 per kg of feed); AFVC (fed a diet containing 0.2 mg of AFB1 per kg of feed along with 200 mg of vitamin C per kg of feed); and AFLP (fed a diet containing 0.2 mg of AFB1 per kg of feed along with 500 mg of PLP per kg of feed). Our findings demonstrate the rich bioactive profile of PLP, including significant antioxidant capacity and various beneficial compounds. When it comes to broiler chicken performance, we observed that the groups supplemented with vitamin C and PLP (AFVC and AFLP) outperformed those with AFB1 alone (AFLB). These supplemented groups exhibited improved body weight gain, feed intake, and reduced mortality rates, suggesting the potential of these natural additives to counteract mycotoxin challenges in poultry production, especially in tropical conditions. Moreover, our results indicated that vitamin C and PLP supplementation ameliorated the adverse effects of AFB1 contamination on dressing percentage and liver weight. Notably, Haematological parameters were significantly impacted by AFB1 exposure, with lower values in the AFLB group, while serum chemistry indices reflected liver and kidney dysfunction. In contrast, supplemented groups showed improved profiles. Overall, our study highlights the potential of PLP, and vitamin C dietary supplementation in enhancing poultry health and production under aflatoxin-B1 exposure, contributing to sustainable poultry farming strategies.