Protective effects of oregano oil on Aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail

Abeir A. Shalaby; Osama S. El–Tawil

Volume : VI, Issue : III, March - 2016

Protective effects of oregano oil on Aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail

Abeir A. Shalaby, Osama S. El Tawil

Abstract :

Contamination of feeds with mycotoxins is a major problem in quail production that causes severe economic losses. This study was performed to investigate the effects of oregano oil, a volatile oil mixture, on the adverse effect of aflatoxins (AFs) on serum oxidative stress, interleukin 1 (IL–1) and interleukin 6 (IL–6) in Japanese quails. A total of 90 unsexed one week old Japanese quails chicks (Coturnix japonica) were divided into 3 groups. Group (A) was considered control quails and fed basal diet, mycotoxins free diet. Group( B) fed basal diet with 2.5 mg AFs/kg diet. Group( C) fed basal diet with 2.5 mg AFs/kg diet and 400 mg oregano oil /kg diet. The experiment was continued for 40 days. Initial and final quails’ body weights were recorded. Serum reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Serum nitric oxide (NO), interleukin 1 (IL–1) and interleukin 6 (IL–6) were estimated. The level of total AFs in rice was 7.13 mg/kg , final body weight was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in quails treated with AFs while it was significantly (P<0.05) increased in group C than group B. At end of the experiment, MDA was significantly (P<0.05) increased in quails treated with AFs. When AFs administered with 400 mg oregano oil, MDA was decreased to a level similar to control group . Catalase, SOD and GSH were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in AFs treated quails and were increased in group C than group B. The levels of NO and IL–6 were increased significantly (P<0.05) in quails of group B, while their levels were decreased in group C. IL–1, was declined significantly (P<0.05) in group B than control, while its level was improved nearly similar to control one in group C. It could be concluded that oregano oil mixture has antioxidant effect and ameliorating effect to AFs immunosuppression in Japanese quails