Abstract
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of glycyrrhizin (GL) in alleviating the adverse effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB1) in male New Zealand white rabbits. Forty-eight New Zeeland white rabbits (1.5 +/- 0.09 kg body weight and 7-9 weeks of age), were divided into four equal dietary treatment groups, namely T0 (basal diet), T1 (basal diet and GL powder, 500 ppm/kg diet), T2 (basal diet and AFB1, 0.5 ppm/kg diet) and T3 (basal diet with AFB1, 0.5ppm/kg diet and GL, 500 ppm/kg diet). Parameters measured were average feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, nutrient digestibilities, as well as some biochemical parameters, antioxidants and carcass characteristics. Aflatoxin treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase as well as serum urea and creatinine concentrations were elevated. Total proteins, albumin levels were decreased; while serum cholesterol levels were not significantly affected by aflatoxin treatment. Levels of malonaldihyde and glutathione increased while superoxide dismutase levels were decreased in T2 and T3 compared to T0 group. Some carcass parameters and chemical composition of meat were closer to the standard values but others were significantly affected. Treatment with GL could diminish the adverse effects of AFB1 on most of biochemical values, and enzymatic activities in rabbits. Finally, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis on some biochemical and antioxidant parameters in rabbits.