Protective effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and silymarin against combined aflatoxin B₁ and ochratoxin A-induced toxicity and immune dysfunction in broiler chickens.

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) frequently co-contaminate poultry feed and adversely affect growth, health, and immune function in broiler chickens. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of dietary AFB₁ (150 µg/kg feed) and OTA (150 µg/kg feed) and investigated the protective potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP; 10 g/kg feed) and silymarin (SIL; 1 g/kg feed), administered individually or in combination. A total of 240 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to eight treatment groups (30 birds per group) and reared for 35 days under a completely randomized design. Growth performance, relative organ weights, hematological indices, serum biochemical parameters, immune responses, and pathological changes were evaluated. Birds co-exposed to AFB₁ and OTA (G4) exhibited the greatest reductions in growth performance, hematological indices, and immune responses, together with marked alterations in serum biochemical parameters and organ weights compared with birds exposed to either toxin alone. Dietary supplementation with MLP or silymarin partially alleviated these adverse effects, whereas combined supplementation (G7) significantly improved growth performance, organ weights, hematological and biochemical parameters, and immune responses compared with the AFB₁ + OTA group, with several parameters not differing significantly from the control group (P < 0.05). The phytogenic control group (G8) showed no detectable adverse effects throughout the experimental period. These findings indicate that combined supplementation with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and silymarin may represent a promising dietary strategy for mitigating the adverse effects associated with AFB₁ and OTA co-exposure in broiler chickens under the conditions of this 35-day study.