Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology | 2021
Ameliorative Potential of Moringa Leaf Meal on Nutrient Digestibility of Rabbits fed Fumonisin B1-Contaminated Diets.
Abstract
The ameliorative potential of Moringa leaf meal (MLM) on nutrient digestibility and organ weights of rabbits fed FB1-contaminated diets was evaluated. The rabbits were divided into nine treatment groups (2.5 mg FB1, 5.0 mg FB1, 2.5 mg FB1 + 10g of MLM, 5.0 mg FB1 + 10g of MLM, 2.5 mg FB1 + 20g of MLM, 5.0 mg FB1 + 20g of MLM, control diet, control diet + 10g of MLM, and control diet + 20g of MLM) kg/diet coded Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively, in a six-week feeding experiment. There was significant influence of the dietary FB1 on the apparent digestibility values of nutrients and relative organ weights of the animals. The values of crude protein digestibility in animals fed Diets 7, 8 and 9 were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the others. The apparent ash digestibility values in animals fed MLM diets were higher than those fed diets containing FB1. The relative liver weights of rabbits fed FB1-contaminated diets were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those fed diets without FB1. Animals fed Diet 2, had the lowest relative liver and heart weights of 31 - 88% and 88 - 99%, respectively compared with other treatments. The potential of the antioxidant to ameliorate the impact of the toxin on nutrient digestibility of the rabbits, however, increased with increase in the MLM concentrations. Inclusion of MLM in FB1-contaminated feeds ameliorated the adverse impacts of the mycotoxin on nutrient digestibility of the animals.