Dietary Lycopene Supplementation Could Alleviate Aflatoxin B(1) Induced Intestinal Damage through Improving Immune Function and Anti-Oxidant Capacity in Broilers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) is a common and devastating food-borne fungal toxic in the broiler industry. AFB(1) has adverse effects on the world poultry industry as it impairs the health, performance, intestinal integrity, and immunity of broilers. There has been a great economic concern in the global poultry production, leading to billions of dollars loss every year due to AFB(1). Antibiotic-free broiler production relies on feed supplementation as an alternative to antibiotic usage. We previously reported that dietary supplementation with lycopene (LYC) has shown a promising effect on performance and intestinal integrity in the broilers infected with AFB(1). However, there are few reports on the effects of LYC on the intestinal development and antioxidant capacity in the broiler against AFB(1). The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of LYC supplementation on the intestinal immune function, barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of broilers fed with an AFB(1) contaminated diet. The findings of this research highlighted that the diet supplemented with LYC has a potential effect to improve intestinal health and reduce AFB(1) related oxidative and inflammatory status. Hence, this study suggested that addition of LYC in broiler poultry production alleviates the AFB(1) toxicity. ABSTRACT: The present study aims to evaluate the effects of lycopene (LYC) supplementation on the intestinal immune function, barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of broilers fed with aflatoxinB1 (AFB(1)) contaminated diet. A total of 144 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three dietary treatment groups; each group consisted of six replicates (eight birds in each cage). Treatments were: (1) a basal diet containing neither AFB(1) nor LYC (Control), (2) basal diet containing 100 µg/kg AFB(1), and (3) basal diets with 100 µg/kg AFB(1) and 200 mg/kg LYC (AFB(1) and LYC). The results showed that dietary LYC supplementation ameliorated the AFB(1) induced broiler intestinal changes by decreasing the inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), and increasing mRNA abundances of cludin-1 (CLDN-1) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the jejunum mucosa. On the other hand, AFB(1)-induced increases in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activities, D-lactate concentration, mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentrations were reversed by dietary LYC supplementation (p < 0.05). Additionally, LYC supplementation ameliorated the redox balance through increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities and their related mRNA expression abundances compared to AFB(1) exposed broilers. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with LYC could alleviate AFB(1) induced broiler intestinal immune function and barrier function damage and improve antioxidants status.