Dietary supplementation of Emblica officinalis for amelioration of experimental aflatoxicosis in commercial broilers

A study was conducted to find out the possible ameliorative effect of dietary Emblica officinalis EO; (synonym, Phyllanthus emblica) in experimental aflatoxicosis in broilers. Day-old chicks (n = 140), divided into seven equal treatment groups, were used in the study of 6 weeks. A control ration was prepared with conventional feedstuffs and an experimental diet was prepared from this ration after incorporating aflatoxin (AF) B₁@300 ppb produced on rice using Aspergillus parasiticus, NRRL 2999 strain. From experimental diet, 5 rations ware prepared by mixing dry fruit of EO in powder form at graded levels i.e., 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g/kg. The 7th diet was the control ration supplemented with EO at the highest level (2.5 g/kg). Dietary aflatoxin significantly (P<0.05) reduced the body weight of broilers; however, addition of EO in toxin fed group could partially improve the situation. The feed-to-gain ratio was superior in the control group (2.19) as compared to toxin alone fed group of birds (2.94). Supplementation of EO along with AFB₁, significantly (P<0.05) improved the feed efficiency from 2nd week onwards which was more conspicuous as the age of the birds advanced; however, complete amelioration of the condition could not be noticed. Feeding AF alone caused significant (P<0.05) increase in the relative weights of liver, heart, proventriculus and giblet but decreased those of spleen, bursa as well as ready to cook meat compared to their control counterparts. Dietary EO showed ameliorating effects in aflatoxicosis on dose related fashion and the best result was obtained with 2.5 g/kg dose. Results of this study indicated that the protective effect of EO in experimental aflatoxicosis was only partial.