Biological properties of activated bentonite vs. non-activated bentonite in mice fed an aflatoxin-contaminated diet: a comparative investigation.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by certain molds, especially Aspergillus species, which are commonly found in nature. These toxins can contaminate animal feed and lead to aflatoxicosis in various livestock species. It has been proposed that using bentonite could help alleviate the symptoms of aflatoxicosis. Recent research, however, has highlighted the importance of the activation process in enhancing bentonite's inhibitory activity against aflatoxicosis. To further investigate this, 40 mice were randomly divided into four dietary groups: a control diet, an aflatoxins-contaminated diet (2 mg/kg), an aflatoxins-contaminated diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg diet and inactive bentonite (5 g/kg diet), and an aflatoxins-contaminated diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg diet and activated bentonite (5 g/kg diet) for 4 weeks. The results demonstrated that bentonite activation improved its specific surface area and total pore volume. Additionally, aflatoxins significantly negatively impacted various parameters such as average daily weight gain, food intake, liver enzymes, serum redox potential, morphometric characteristics of the jejunum, and induced hepatic inflammation. The study found that the dietary addition of both non-activated and activated bentonite significantly improved these parameters. However, activated bentonite displayed greater potency in alleviating the symptoms of aflatoxicosis compared to non-activated bentonite. As a result, it is recommended to use activated bentonite when dealing with aflatoxin contamination in animal diets.