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Abstract
Background and aim: Previously we reported that hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and Tunisian Montmorillonite (TM) had an ability to sorb aflatoxins with a high affinity. Addition of these compounds to feedstuffs contaminated with aflatoxins has shown protective effects against the development of aflatoxicosis in farm and laboratory animals. The objective of the current study was to compare the efficiency of HSCAS and the TM in respect to the protection against immuntoxicological effects of aflatoxins in rats.
Materials and methods: Animals fed an aflatoxin-contaminated diet (2.5 mg/kg diet) showed a significant decrease in all hematological parameters, cholesterol, triglycerides, cholinesterase, total protein, albumin, zinc and copper concentrations.
Results: Such feeding significantly increased createnine, bilirubin, urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases concentrations. The immunological results showed a significant decrease in lymphocytes of the total white blood cells, immunoglobulin profile (Ig G and Ig A), T-cells sub-types (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+), NK and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β) typical of aflatoxicosis. Both HSCAS and TM at the level of 5 g/kg contaminated diet resulted in a significant improvement in all immunological parameters—in lymphocyte, immunoglobulin profile, T-cells sub-types and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the mineral status and the biochemical parameters.
Conclusions: The deleterious effects of aflatoxin could be overcome or, at least, diminished by the addition of sorbents. Moreover, both tested sorbents by themselves had no toxic effects and bind aflatoxin with high affinity.