Abstract: [Objective] This study was conducted to assess the effects of ellagic acid on growth performance, antioxidant function and intestinal barrier function in mice fed aflatoxin-containing diets. [Method] A total of 30 healthy female Kunming mice weighted 18 to 22 g were randomly assigned into a control group, a toxin group or an ellagic acid treatment group, with 10 mice in each group. The control group fed a basal diet, the toxin group fed the basal diet containing 250 μg/kg aflatoxin, and the ellagic acid treatment group fed the basal diet supplemented with 250 μg/kg aflatoxin and 100 mg/kg ellagic acid. The feeding experiment lasted for 35 days. The mice were individually weighed at the beginning and end of the experiment, and the weight gain were calculated. At the end of the experiment, the blood samples of the mice were collected with ophthalmectomy. The serum antioxidant indexes such as total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD） activity, total antioxidant capacity （T-AOC） and malondialdehyde （MDA） content as well as the intestinal barrier function indexes such as diamine oxidase （DAO） activity and D-lactic acid content were determined by using ELISA assay. The jejunal tissue samples of the mice were collected to prepare paraffin section. The morphological structure of jejunal mucosa, jejunal villus height and jejunal crypt depth were observed with HE staining, and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth was calculated. [Result] The final body weight and the weight gain of toxin group were extremely significantly （P<0.01） lower than control group. While the final body weight of ellagic acid treatment group was not significantly （P>0.05） different from toxin group, the weight gain of ellagic acid treatment group was extremely significantly （P<0.01） higher than toxin group. Toxin group had significantly （P<0.05） decreased serum T-AOC activity and extremely significantly （P<0.01） reduced serum T-SOD activity in comparison to toxin group. Ellagic acid treatment group had extremely significantly （P<0.01） elevated serum T-SOD activity compared with toxin group, while no significant （P>0.05） difference in serum T-AOC activity was found between these two groups. An extremely significantly （P<0.01） higher serum MDA content was observed in toxin group than control group, and an extremely significantly （P<0.01） lower serum MDA content was observed in ellagic acid treatment group than toxin group. Toxin group had extremely significantly （P<0.01） higher serum DAO activity and D-lactic acid content compared with control group. Ellagic acid treatment group had significantly （P<0.05） reduced serum DAO activity compared with toxin group,while no significant （P>0.05） difference in serum D-lactic acid content was found between these two groups. The jejunal villi and crypt of the mice in control group exhibited complete morphology, and no abnormal pathological changes were observed. Serious pathological damages were observed in jejunal tissues of the mice in toxin group：the arrangement of jejunal villi was neither neat nor tight, the intervillous space enlarged and even break, and the arrangement of jejunal crypt was also not neat. The jejunal villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of toxin group was extremely significantly （P<0.01） decreased compared with control group, while no significant （P>0.05） difference in jejunal crypt depth was found between these two groups. The mice in ellagic acid treatment group exhibited alleviated pathological damages in jejunal tissues compared with toxin group：the morphology of jejunal mucosa was basically restored to normal, the villi breakage was ameliorated, and the jejunal crypt arranged more neatly. The ellagic acid treatment group had extremely significantly （P<0.01） increased jejunal villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth than toxin group, while no significant （P>0.05） difference in jejunal crypt depth was found between these two groups. [Conclusion] Ellagic acid alleviates the damages induced by aflatoxin in mice via inhibiting the body weight reduction, enhancing serum antioxidant function and improving jejunal mucosa barrier function.

Key words: ellagic acid, aflatoxin, mice, growth performance, anti-oxidation, intestinal barrier