Hepatoprotective effect of Silybum marianum on experimental hepatotoxicity in broilers

Abstract

Uncontrolled lipid oxidation plays a key role in poultry diseases. Silybum marianum have been used as a natural medication for the liver and biliary duct. Pharmacologically effective substance of silymarin includes four main ingredients: silybin, silychristin, silydianin, and isosilybin. CCL4, a hepatotoxic chemical agent, is largely used to produce experimental models to study hepatic cirrhosis and fibrosis in experimental animals. The aim of the present study was to verify the hepatoprotective effects of feed mixtures containing S. marianum in CCL4-induced hepatotoxicity in broilers. A randomized experimental design was used, and chicks were divided into six treatment groups. Chicks in group 1 (control) were fed basal diets without any supplementation. Birds in group 2 were fed basal diets and received CCL4. Birds in group 3 were fed basal diets supplemented with 60 ppm extract of S. marianum fruit (SE). Birds in groups 4 to 6 fed basal diet plus 40 ppm SE+CCL4, 60 ppm SE+CCL4, and 80 ppm SE+CCL4, respectively. Blood samples were analyzed to determine the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), total protein, albumin, globulin, and liver cytochrome P450. In CCL4-treated groups, the mean serum levels of ALT, AST, SGOT, and SGPT were markedly (P < 0.05) raised compared to the control group, and addition of SE reduced (P < 0.05) the levels of these enzymes. Liver cytochrome P450 increased with CCL4 and reduced (P < 0.05) with the coadministration of different concentrations of SE (P < 0.05). It was observed that treatment with S. marianum fruit extract significantly reduced the tissue damage caused by CCL4.