Hepatoprotective Effect of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Sajor Caju) in Broilers Fed Aflatoxin

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor caju) against aflatoxicosis in straight run broiler chicken (Vencob strain). Liver damage was assessed by quantifying the levels of serum proteins, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and antioxidant profile which included lipid peroxidation, Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Superoxide dismutase levels (SOD) supported by gross and histopathological examination. Aflatoxin administration at 1 ppm level resulted in increase in serum ALT and AST, decrease in serum proteins, increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in GPx and SOD levels with varying degrees of liver damage ranging from macrovesicular degeneration of hepatocytes to bile duct hyperplasia. Oyster mushroom (1%, 2.5% and 5% levels) produced dose dependant improvement in all the parameters studied indicating hepatoprotective effect.