Short Term Effects of Herbal Mixture and T-2 Toxin Exposure on Some Glutathione Redox and Lipid Peroxidation Parameters of Blood in Broiler Chickens

Short-term effects of T-2 toxin (1.13 mg/kg feed) was investigated in broiler chicken, in connection with dietary addition of a medicinal herbal mixture. Three-week old Cobb 540 broiler chickens (n=120) were randomly assigned into five experimental groups. In three experimental groups Herbamix® Basic Premix were used (300, 600 and 1500 mg/kg) as two weeks long pre-treatment. Samplings were done at every twelve hour. Parameters of lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox system were measured in blood plasma and red blood cell haemolysates. T-2 toxin treatment increased the GSH concentration and GPx activity of plasma at 12h and 24h, while most marked elevations were found in T-2 toxin+medium Herbamix dose group. The results revealed that T-2 toxin had pro-oxidant effect, and consequently activated the glutathione redox system of broiler chickens. The applied herbal mixture had only moderate effect against the mild oxidative stress caused by T-2 toxin at the dose applied.