Combination of herbal components (curcumin, carvacrol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde) in broiler chicken feed: Impacts on response parameters, performance, fatty acid profiles, meat quality and control of coccidia and bacteria.

The objective of this study was to determine whether curcumin and a commercial microencapsulated phytogenic supplement containing thymol, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol in broiler chicken feed would improve health and meat quality (fatty acid profile), as well as to determine the coccidiostatic and bactericidal potential of the additives. The broiler chickens were divided into five groups: NC - negative control feed; PC - positive control; CU - with 50 mg/kg of curcumin, PHY - 100 mg/kg phytogenic; and PHY + CU, a combination of both additives at 50 mg/kg (curcumin) and 100 mg/kg (phytogenic). We observed significantly higher levels of total proteins associated with increased circulating globulins, as well as lower levels of uric acid, cholesterol and triglycerides in the PHY + CU group than in the NC. There were significantly fewer oocysts in birds supplemented with additives in the NC group on day 21; on day 35, the NC, PHY and PHY + CU groups had significantly lower counts than the PC and CU groups; however, at 44 days, the lowest counts were in PC group. The bacterial counts were significantly lower on day 21 in all groups that received additives than those of the control group; however, at 44 days, the bacterial and Escherichia coli counts in these groups were significantly higher than those of the control. Curcumin with or without phytogenic agent improved meat quality, with increased antioxidant levels and reduction of lipid peroxidation. There were significantly lower total saturated fatty acid levels and significantly greater monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in broilers that consumed additives individually and in combination. The combination of additives significantly increased the crypt/villus ratio, a marker of improved intestinal health and performance. Additives potentiated their individual effects, suggesting they can replace conventional growth promoters without compromising health, intestinal mucosa or meat quality.

Effect of pine bark (Pinus radiata) extracts on sporulation of coccidian oocysts.

A series of experiments have been undertaken to determine the effect of water extracts from pine bark (Pinus radiata) on the inhibition of the sporulation of oocysts of three species of avian coccidia. Tubes containing coccidian oocysts isolated from droppings of coccidia-infected chickens were randomly assigned to 0, 250, 500 and 1000 microg/ml pine bark extract (PBE). The tubes were incubated at 25-29 degrees C for 48 h depending on the species of Eimeria. Sporulation inhibition bioassay was used to evaluate the activity of PBE on the sporulation of coccidian oocysts. The oocysts were gently aerated with an air pump away from sun light. The results show for the first time that water-soluble extracts from pine bark containing 35% condensed tannins have anticoccidial activity as evidenced by their ability to decrease significantly the sporulation of the oocysts of three species of Eimeria, namely Eimeria tenella (Railliet et Lucet, 1891), E. maxima Tyzzer, 1929 and E. acervulina Tyzzer, 1929, under laboratory conditions. Incubation of unsporulated oocysts of these parasites in water containing 500 microg PBE per ml resulted in inhibition of sporulation of these oocysts by about 28-84% relative to the oocysts in the control incubations. In addition, up to 12% of E. maxima oocysts exposed to 500-1000 microg pine bark/ml were containing abnormal sporocysts in terms of size, number and shape.