Effects of gallic acid on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, antioxidative status and cecum microbiota...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of gallic acid (GA) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant status, and cecum microbiota in broilers challenged with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The study was conducted using a 2 × 2 completely randomized arrangement with two AFB1-challenged groups (yes or no) and two GA treatments (yes or no). The diets of 480 healthy one-old WOD178 broilers were formulated with 250 mg/kg GA and 500 μg/kg AFB1. The diets in 4 groups, formulated using a cross-over design, were randomly assigned to chicks with 10 replicates, each with 12 chicks. Broilers fed the AFB1 diets had a greater liver and kidney index and malondialdehyde concentration in plasma, which was decreased by GA supplementation (P < 0.05). Moreover, the addition of GA enhanced the AFB1-induced decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities and jejunal structure changes (P < 0.05). The AFB1 increased the cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme mRNA expression in the liver, and the GA groups increased the expression of kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein 1 and cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme genes compared with the unchallenged groups (P < 0.05). Supplementation with GA increased the lower α-diversity index and decreased the higher β-diversity index induced by AFB1 (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, GA reversed the increased abundance of Firmicutes and decreased abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria by AFB1 (P < 0.05). At the genus level, compared with the non-AFB1 groups, the addition of GA increased the Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Blautia and decreased the Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella in the AFB1 groups (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the addition of 250 mg/kg GA to the diet improved intestinal morphology and liver antioxidant status and alleviated the pathologic organ proliferation, oxidative damage, and the growth of harmful bacteria induced by 500 µg/kg AFB1.