Effects of Berberine on Mycotoxins in Broiler Chicken Diets

A new study published in Poultry Science has found that berberine (a plant alkaloid) can reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin and ochratoxin in broiler feed. 

A standard approach to controlling mycotoxins is to add non-nutritive adsorbents to beverages. These adsorbents bind to mycotoxins and fundamentally reduce their absorption. Several such adsorbents have already been successfully applied. On the other hand, there is increasing interest in using plant extracts to reduce the toxic effects of mycotoxins. 

A study published in Poultry Science (2021) indicates that berberine has anti-inflammatory and anti-toxic effects on broiler feed contaminated with aflatoxin. Researchers contaminated broiler feed with aflatoxin and ochratoxin, and then added different concentrations of 'berberine' to the feed to study the effects on egg-laying performance, antioxidant capacity, liver function and intestinal function of broilers poisoned by aflatoxin and ochratoxin. 

This study used chickens aged 288 days, with both toxins added at levels of 2 parts per million. The study was divided into the following nine dietary groups: 

Group 1 (Control Group): No mycotoxins, no additives 

Group 2 Aflatoxin Group: Aflatoxin: 0.2 per million 

Group 3 Ochratoxins: Ochratoxin: 0.2% (parts per million) 

Groups 3-6: Aflatoxin + Berberine: Aflatoxin: 0.2% (ppm); Berberine: 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg & 600 mg/kg 

Groups 7-9 (Ochratoxin + Berberine): Ochratoxin: 0.2% (ppm); Berberine: 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg & 600 mg/kg 

The experiment showed that the addition of berberine improved all performance parameters in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of berberine also reduced mortality. The decline in experimental performance was attributed to mycotoxins inhibiting the secretion of digestive enzymes (damaging the digestive tract and liver), leading to impaired nutrient absorption and utilization. 

Berberine can minimize the effects of mycotoxins through various mechanisms. For example, it activates conserved proteins of the B-cell lymphoma 2 family, inhibits mitochondrial permeability and the release of apoptotic proteins from mitochondria, ultimately inhibiting apoptosis or necrosis. Increased yield and reduced mortality are also attributed to the antioxidant properties of the plant extract and its antibacterial effects against pathogenic and non-beneficial microorganisms. 

Antioxidant Status: The toxic effects of mycotoxins can lead to oxidative stress and the generation of free radicals, damaging the antioxidant system. In this study, the addition of berberine to a contaminated diet produced antioxidant effects, observed by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of lipid peroxidation. MDA increases during oxidative stress and is an important indicator of antioxidant capacity. 

Another finding was that berberine increased the production of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPO), which together form a major system to combat the toxic effects of free radicals. Researchers emphasized that the degree of oxidative stress was related to the duration of mycotoxin contamination, co-contamination, synergistic effects, toxin levels, animal age, breed, and reproductive stage. 

In this study, the livers of chickens fed with aflatoxin and ochratoxin underwent changes, manifesting as hepatic degeneration, including hepatocyte swelling, fatty degeneration, and vascular changes leading to hepatomegaly. Liver damage was also observable by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, all hallmarks of liver degenerative changes. Increased levels of Berberine at all levels resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and injury scores. Given that these mycotoxins are known to induce apoptosis through inflammatory mechanisms and oxidative stress, it is speculated that the anti-inflammatory effect of berberine may reduce aflatoxin-induced damage by decreasing the production of inflammatory factors. Berberine has been shown to improve liver damage induced by aflatoxin and ochratoxin. 

Adding aflatoxin or ochratoxin to the diet reduced intestinal function, fluff height, fluff width, and crypt depth in broiler chickens. Berberine supplementation at all levels improved these intestinal measurements. The ameliorative effect of berberine is attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress, decrease inflammatory factors, regulate the non-beneficial microbiota, and promote epithelial cell growth. 

The results showed that berberine supplementation is an effective dietary strategy for preventing aflatoxin and ochratoxin poisoning. Overall, a berberine supplementation of 600 mg/kg is recommended, as berberine can improve the growth performance, liver function, intestinal function, and antioxidant status of broilers fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin and ochratoxin.