Vol. 10, Issue 1, Part E (2026)

Aflatoxin contamination in poultry feed continues to threaten broiler health, growth efficiency and overall production sustainability. Its pronounced hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive and pro-oxidative properties result in marked alterations in hematology, serum biochemical profiles, antioxidant enzyme activities and characteristic gross and histopathological lesions. Currently, cost-effective and practical methods to prevent AF induced toxicity in chickens are limited. One of the approaches to overcome mycotoxicosis in poultry is using herbal products. Polyherbal nutraceutical containing Tephrosia purpurea aerial part, Punica granatum fruit rind, Acacia nilotica bark, Tamarindus indica seed coat was used in this study as mitigating agents to know the therapeutic potential in counteracting the aflatoxicosis in broilers. A study was conducted to evaluate the toxicopathology of experimental aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens and its mitigation using a novel polyherbal nutraceutical. Day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six treatments (N=15) for 42 days: T₁ (control), T₂ (1 ppm AF), T₃ (AF + binder 500 g/ton), T₄ (AF + PHN 500 g/ton + binder 1000g/ton), T₅ (AF + binder 500 g/ton + PHN 500 g/ton) and T₆ (AF + binder 500 g/ton + PHN 1000 g/ton). Aflatoxin-fed birds showed significantly elevated serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, BUN and significant reductions in haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total protein and albumin. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT) were decreased and hepatic lipid peroxidation increased. Gross lesions included pale to yellowish colour, enlarged liver and kidneys with lymphoid depletion of the bursa, spleen and thymus. Microscopically, aflatoxin treated birds revealed severe hepatic vacuolar degeneration, bile-duct hyperplasia, periportal necrosis and renal tubular degeneration. Supplementation with PHN and binder (T₆) significantly restored haematology, serum biochemical, antioxidant profiles and reduced histopathological lesions. Based on these results, we conclude that supplementation of PHN enhanced recovery, though without statistically significant synergism and their supplementation can reduce oxidative stress thus restoring the liver damage caused by AF in broilers chicken.