Reversal of toxigenic effects of aflatoxin B[1 on cockerels by alcoholic extract of African nutmeg,\+i\ Monodora myristica\-i

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 333 - 340.
• Main Authors: Oluwafemi, Flora, Taiwo, Victor O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2004
• ISSN: 0022-5142
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.1626

The reversal of the toxigenic effects of crystalline aflatoxin B(sub 1) (AFB(sub 1); from Aspergilus flavus) on cockerels using different concentrations of the ethanolic extract from the seeds of African nutmeg, Monodora myristica, was studied in 130 two-week-old cockerels, randomly divided into 13 groups (A-M) of ten birds each. Group A (controls) received 100 *ml of phosphate-buffered saline, while those in the test groups B, C and D received 690 ng, 1380 ng or 2010 ng of AFB(sub 1), respectively; groups E to M received the three doses of AFB(sub 1) with either 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 ml of the extract of M myristica, respectively, 5 min after administration of AFB(sub 1). Jugular blood, collected on days 14 and 21 after administration, was analysed for haematology parameters, serum proteins, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and *g-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. The birds were observed daily for clinical signs and mortality for 21 days. Post-mortem examination was carried out on the livers of dead birds and those sacrificed by exsanguination after the 21 days post-administration. One hundred per cent mortality was recorded in cockerels that received high doses of only AFB(sub 1) within 72 h (2010 ng per bird), and between 17 and 19 days (1380 ng). The cockerels developed leucocytosis and microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Dosing with 0.2 or 0.3 ml of the extract of M myristica reversed these changes over time, while the lowest dose (0.1 ml) did not. While serum bilirubin levels rose significantly in test cockerels, no significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in the levels of serum proteins of control and test cockerels, whether or not they received the extract of M myristica. Aflatoxicosis caused significant decreases and increases (P < 0.05) in serum AST and GGT levels, respectively, while the administration of alcoholic extract of M myristica reversed the GGT but not AST levels to normal. Livers from control cockerels and those given 2010 ng of AFB(sub 1) showed no appreciable gross or histological lesions. The other groups showed mild to moderate hepatomegaly, paleness and friability, diffuse vacuolar degeneration and necrosis, Kupffer cell proliferation, presence of megalocytes and multinucleated hepatocytes. Cockerels that received 0.2 or 0.3 ml of extract of M myristica, irrespective of the dose of AFB(sub 1) showed the mildest hepatic lesions. The results of this study show that AFB(sub 1) is highly toxigenic to cockerels and that this could be successfully reversed by the concurrent administration of alcoholic extract of M myristica. It is therefore recommended that reduction of fungal growth on foods and subsequent toxicosis by aeration, cooling, modified atmospheres or by fungistats, is complemented with the use of extracts of spices from M myristica seed, a tree widely distributed along the west coast and central Africa.