Tannins: A Promising Antidote to Mitigate the Harmful Effects of Aflatoxin B1 to Animals
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a major metabolite of aflatoxin, is a highly toxic carcinogen. It frequently contaminates feed due to improper storage of feed ingredients such as corn and peanut meal, with the contamination risk further escalating alongside the increasing incorporation of plant-based proteins in feed formulations. Upon entering an organism, AFB1 is metabolized into highly reactive derivatives, which trigger an oxidative stress-inflammation vicious cycle by binding to biological macromolecules, damaging cellular structures, activating apoptotic and inflammatory pathways, and inhibiting antioxidant systems. This cascade leads to stunted growth, impaired immunity, and multisystem dysfunction in animals. Long-term accumulation can also compromise reproductive function, induce carcinogenesis, and pose risks to human health through residues in the food chain. Tannins are natural polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants which exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and can effectively mitigate the toxicity of AFB1. They can repair intestinal damage by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and up-regulating the gene expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, regulate the balance of intestinal flora, and improve intestinal structure. Meanwhile, tannins can activate antioxidant signaling pathways, up-regulate the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes to enhance antioxidant capacity, exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating inflammation-related signaling pathways, further reduce DNA damage, and decrease cell apoptosis and pyroptosis through such means as down-regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. This review summarizes the main harm of AFB1 to animals and the mitigating mechanisms of tannins, aiming to provide references for the resource development of tannins and healthy animal farming.
Journal
Toxins
Publication Name
Toxins
Volume
18
ISBN/ISSN
2072-6651
Edition
N/A
Issue
1
Pages Count
17
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N/A
Publisher
MDPI
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Publish Date
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Date
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EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.3390/toxins18010015