We evaluated the effects of dietary epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the performance, biochemical parameters, and liver histopathology of fluoride-intoxicated broiler chickens. In total, 160 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross PM3 strain) were collected and assigned to four groups (40 animals each), with four replicates. The control group received a basal diet; the F group received 800 mg/kg fluoride; the EGCG group received 400 mg/kg EGCG; and the EGCG+F group received 400 mg/kg EGCG and 800 mg/kg fluoride. The live weight (LW) of F-treated chicks was significantly lower than that of the controls. In the F-treated groups, feed intake (FI) and LW values were lower, but the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher than those of the controls. The ratio of heart weight to LW was found to be the highest in the F-treated groups. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total oxidant status (TOS) levels in the F-treated groups were significantly higher, whereas the increase in total cholesterol levels was insignificant than those in the control group. In the EGCG+F group, AST, total cholesterol, and TOS levels decreased to a level comparable to those in the control group. Histopathological evaluation revealed that there were mild changes in the portal region in the EGCG+F group; additionally, there was an improvement in liver morphology in the EGCG+F group compared to that in the F group. Thus, EGCG has potent antioxidant and regenerative effects that can ameliorate the detrimental effects of fluoride toxicity on blood parameters and the liver.
Keywords: Antioxidant status; Biochemical parameters; Broiler performance; Epigallocatechin; Fluoride toxicity; Liver histopathology.