Lycopene alleviates aflatoxin B1 induced liver damage through inhibiting cytochrome 450 isozymes and improving detoxification and antioxidant systems in broiler chickens

The effects of lycopene on liver damage in Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1))-challenged broilers were investigated. A total of 240 Arbour Acres Broilers in five groups were fed basal diet (control), basal diet with 100 mu g/kg AFB(1) (AFB(1)), AFB(1) diet with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lycopene (AL1, AL2, and AL3), respectively. Broilers in AFB(1) group had higher hepatic activities of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) than the control group (P < .05). The hepatic concentrations of AFB(1)-8,9-epoxide-DNA adduct (AFBO-DNA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), protein carbonyl (PC) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were higher in AFB(1) group than the control group (P < .05). In lycopene supplementation groups, the activities of CYP1A1 and CYP2A6, and the concentrations of AFBO-DNA, ROS, MDA, and 8-OHdG were lower than AFB(1) group (P < .05). The 4-HNE and PC concentrations in AL2 and AL3 groups were lower than AFB(1) group (P < .05). Compared to the control group, broilers in the AFB(1) group had reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and decreased activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutamine-cysteine ligase (GCL), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (P < .05). Whereas the GSH concentration in AL2 group, the GST activity in AL1 and AL3 groups, the GCL and CAT activities in AL1 group, and GPx activity in AL1, AL2, and AL3 groups were higher than AFB(1) group (P < .05). Therefore, lycopene alleviated AFB(1)-induced liver damage possibly through inhibiting cytochrome P450 isozymes and improving detoxification and antioxidant systems in broilers.