Ameliorative effect of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) on selenium induced hepatic toxicity in broilers

Poultry liver is sensitive to dietary selenium (Se) content. It was well known that selenium induced hepatic toxicity in animal models. However, little is known about the negative effects of selenium toxicity in the liver of birds. The aim of this study was to investigate possible beneficial protective effects of Ginsenoside Rb1from panax ginseng (PG) root on selenium induced hepatic toxicity in broiler chickens. To investigate this effect, one-day-old chicks received Se (as 0.48 mg Na2SeO3/kg b.w.) in the diet for 4 weeks, PG+Se (received 100 mg Ginsenoside Rb1/kg b.w. in the diet for 1o days before administration of 0.48 mg Na2SeO3/kg b.w. in the diet for 20 days and PG alone (as 100 mg Ginsenoside Rb1/ kg b.w.) in the diet for 4 weeks. hepatic marker enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase-AST, alanine aminotransferase-ALT, gama glutamil transferase-GGT), some biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, globulin cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose), beside hepatic antioxidants (catalase-CAT, superoxide dismutase-SOD and glutathione peroxidase-GPx) and malondialdehyde-MDA were estimated. Selenium intoxication elevated serum hepatic enzymes, some biochemical parameters and MDA. These effects were prevented by the pretreatment of chickens with PG. It could be concluded that PG extract has significant hepatic and antioxidative effects against the liver damage of chicken intoxicated with selenium and so it can be used as a valuable neutraceutical application in poultry farms.