Corrigendum: Evaluation of the efficacy of humic acids to counteract the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in turkey poults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1276754.].

Removal of Aflatoxin B1 Using Alfalfa Leaves as an Adsorbent Material: A Comparison between Two In Vitro Experimental Models.

An adsorbent material derived from alfalfa leaves was prepared and further characterized, and its efficacy for removing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated. Characterization consisted of the use of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), point of zero charge (pHpzc), zeta potential (ζ-potential), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and spectral analysis. To determine the adsorption capacity against AFB1 (250 ng AFB1/mL), pH-dependent and avian intestinal in vitro models were used. The adsorbent inclusion percentage was 0.5% (w/w). In general, the pH-dependent model gave adsorption percentages of 98.2%, 99.9%, and 98.2%, evaluated at pH values of 2, 5, and 7, respectively. However, when the avian intestinal model was used, it was observed that the adsorption percentage of AFB1 significantly decreased (88.8%). Based on the characterization results, it is proposed that electrostatic, non-electrostatic, and the formation of chlorophyll-AFB1 complexes were the main mechanisms for AFB1 adsorption. From these results, it can be concluded that the adsorbent derived from alfalfa leaves could be used as an effective material for removing AFB1 in in vitro digestion models that mimic the physiological reality.

Evaluation of the efficacy of humic acids to counteract the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 in turkey poults.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of humic acid (HA) from worm compost as an adsorbent for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in turkey poults. The experiment involved the inclusion of 0.25% (w/w) HA in the diet of turkey poults consuming aflatoxin-contaminated feed (250 ng AFB1/g). A total of 350 1-day-old female Nicholas-700 turkey poults were randomly allocated to five equal groups: negative control (basal diet); positive control (basal diet + 250 ng AFB1/g; HA (basal diet + 0.25% HA); HA + AFB1 (basal diet + HA + 250 ng AFB1/g); and zeolite + AFB1 (basal diet + 0.25% zeolite + 250 ng AFB1/g). Each group had seven replicates of 10 poults (n = 70). The impact of HA addition was evaluated in terms of performance parameters, relative organ weights, liver histological lesions, and serum biochemical and hematological constituents. In general, the addition of HA improved body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion rate (FCR). Furthermore, HA effectively mitigated the toxic effects caused by AFB1 in the majority of the analyzed variables. The results indicated that HA effectively counteracted the AFB1-induced toxic effects in turkey poults. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that HA is capable of removing AFB1 from the contaminated diet.

Humic Acids Preparation, Characterization, and Their Potential Adsorption Capacity for Aflatoxin B1 in an In Vitro Poultry Digestive Model.

Vermicompost was used for humic acid (HA) preparation, and the adsorption of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated. Two forms of HA were evaluated, natural HA and sodium-free HA (SFHA). As a reference, a non-commercial zeolitic material was employed. The adsorbents were characterized by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), zeta potential (ζ-potential), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and point of zero charge (pHpzc). The adsorbent capacity of the materials when added to an AFB1-contaminated diet (100 µg AFB1/kg) was evaluated using an in vitro model that simulates the digestive tract of chickens. Characterization results revealed the primary functional groups in HA and SFHA were carboxyl and phenol. Furthermore, adsorbents have a highly negative ζ-potential at the three simulated pH values. Therefore, it appears the main influencing factors for AFB1 adsorption are electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the bioavailability of AFB1 in the intestinal section was dramatically decreased when sorbents were added to the diet (0.2%, w/w). The highest AFB1 adsorption percentages using HA and SFHA were 97.6% and 99.7%, respectively. The zeolitic material had a considerable adsorption (81.5%). From these results, it can be concluded that HA and SFHA from vermicompost could be used as potential adsorbents to remove AFB1 from contaminated feeds.

Removal of Aflatoxins Using Agro-Waste-Based Materials and Current Characterization Techniques Used for Biosorption Assessment.

Aflatoxins are the most hazardous fungal-generated secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic Aspergillus species. These toxins are frequently detected in food and feed and impose either acute or chronic effects in humans and animals, causing great public concern. Because of the adverse effects of aflatoxins, many physical, chemical, and biological decontamination approaches have been developed. However, the most commonly used procedure is the addition of adsorbent materials into aflatoxin-contaminated diets to reduce toxin absorption and distribution to blood and target organs. In recent times, sorption technology with agro-waste-based materials has appeared as a promising alternative over conventional binding agents with the benefits of low cost, higher rentability, feasibility, and exceptional efficiencies. This review is mainly focused on discussing the most important agro-waste-based materials able to adsorb aflatoxins such as pomaces, seeds, stems, hulls, peels, leaves, berries, lignins, fibers, weeds, and various horticultural byproducts. Further data of the in vitro, in vivo, and in silico efficacy of these biomaterials to adsorb and then desorb aflatoxins are given. Besides, an overview of the main characterization techniques used to elucidate the most important physical and chemical mechanisms involved in the biosorption is presented. Finally, conclusions and future research necessities are also outlined.

Potential of Kale and Lettuce Residues as Natural Adsorbents of the Carcinogen Aflatoxin B1 in a Dynamic Gastrointestinal Tract-Simulated Model.

Adsorption of the carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) onto agro-waste-based materials is a promising alternative over conventional inorganic binders. In the current study, two unmodified adsorbents were eco-friendly prepared from kale and lettuce agro-wastes. A dynamic gastrointestinal tract-simulated model was utilized to evaluate the removal efficiency of the sorptive materials (0.5%, w/w) when added to an AFB1-contaminated diet (100 µg AFB1/kg). Different characterization methodologies were employed to understand the interaction mechanisms between the AFB1 molecule and the biosorbents. Based on adsorption results, the biosorbent prepared from kale was the best; its maximum adsorption capacity was 93.6%, which was significantly higher than that of the lettuce biosorbent (83.7%). Characterization results indicate that different mechanisms may act simultaneously during adsorption. Non-electrostatic (hydrophobic interactions, dipole-dipole interactions, and hydrogen bonding) and electrostatic interactions (ionic attractions) together with the formation of AFB1-chlorophyll complexes appear to be the major influencing factors driving AFB1 biosorption.