Origanum majorana essential oil ameliorated the behavioral, biochemical, physiological and performance perturbations induced by aflatoxin B1 in growing rabbits

Abstract The current study assessed the benefits of marjoram essential oil (MEO) in reducing the aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in growing rabbits. Forty-eight rabbits, aged 4 weeks, were randomly assigned to four groups (4 replications of 3 rabbits / replicate) as follows: BD group (control); AFB1 group (supplemented with AFB1 0.3 mg/kg diet); MEO-supplemented group (1 g MEO/kg diet); AFB1 + MEO group (AFB1 0.3 mg/kg diet + 1 g MEO/kg diet). AFB1 exposure resulted in reduction of rabbit growth and total protein and albumin content in serum; increased liver function related enzymes (ALP, ALT and AST); induced oxidative stress displayed by lower level of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GSH), increased biomarkers of DNA and lipid oxidative damage with significant upregulation of the tumor suppressor protein interferon-γ, interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor- α and heat shock protein-70 when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Moreover, exposure to AFB1 increased the bioaccumulation of AFB1 residues in rabbit liver. Supplementation of MEO in the AFB1-exposed rabbits alleviated all of its negative effects. In conclusion, dietary addition of 1 g MEO could effectively ameliorate the adverse impacts of AFB1 on rabbit growth; enhanced their antioxidants and reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response indicators, as well as the AFB1- residues in liver.