Ameliorating the Effect of Mycotoxins in Poultry Feeds Using Plant Extracts

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungal origin that tends to contaminate agricultural commodities before or under post-harvest conditions. They are mainly produced by fungi in the genera, Aspergillus sp. (Aspergillaceae: Eurotiales), Penicillium sp. (Trichocomaceae; Eurotiales) and Fusarium sp. (Nectriaceae: Hypocreales). When ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, mycotoxins causes sickness or death in humans and animals. Natural substances that can prevent AFB1 toxicity to human and animal health with minimal cost will be a great advantage. Traditional medicinal plants are currently used for their antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity. Aspergillus parasiticus strain NRRL 2999 was used to produce Aflatoxin, as it is one of the highly toxigenic fungus available. Inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts of plants was enhanced upon gradual increase in their concentrations. Among them, the ethanol extracts of Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) completely arrested the fungal growth and inhibited the growth significantly, even at lower concentrations (1%) in comparison with other extracts and the negative control. Hence, the present work has been carried out to find the aflatoxin antifungal activity of the plant extracts Albizia lebbeck (Fabaceae: Fabales), Syzgium aromaticum (Myrtaceae: Myrtales) and Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) against aflatoxin contaminated poultry feed. In conclusion, the present study serves as a base and arises a futuristic need for efficient cost effective sampling and analytical methods that can be used for detection and control of mycotoxins in poultry feed.