Performance, HSP70 expression, antioxidant enzymes, oxidative DNA damage biomarkers, metabolic hormones, and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens fed mistletoe leaf powder supplemented diets under tropical high ambient temperatures.

The study investigated the impact of Mistletoe Leaf Powder (MLP) supplementation on some parameters in heat-stressed broiler chickens. The standard baseline diets, comprising four different formulations, were provided during the starter and finisher stages. Chickens were randomly assigned to the 4 dietary groups: a negative control (CON) with no supplementation, a positive control (VTC) with 200 mg/kg vitamin C, and 2 experimental treatment groups with 2500 mg/kg (MLP2) and 5000 mg/kg (MLP5) MLP supplementation. The Body Weight Gain (BWG) in MLP2 and MLP5 treatment groups was comparable (P > 0.05) to those in VTC, while the CON group exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) lower BWG. Feed consumption was significantly (P < 0.05) lower broiler chickens in the CON group compared to those VTC, MLP2, and MLP5. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) levels were lower in broiler chickens belonging to VTC, MLP2, and MLP5 groups compared to those in CON, and MLP2 showed no difference (P > 0.05) from MLP5 and VTC. Serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in birds belonging to MLP5, MLP2, and VTC groups compared to CON. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in birds of VTC, MLP2, and MLP5 compared to the CON, with VTC showing the least concentration. Serum insulin levels were higher (P < 0.05) in MLP5 compared to those in CON, while serum triiodothyronine and leptin concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in CON compared to birds in VTC, MLP2, and MLP5. Microbiota analysis revealed that the Coliform bacteria population was higher (P < 0.05) in birds belonging to CON compared to those in VTC, MLP2, and MLP5 groups, whereas lactic acid-producing bacteria were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in birds of CON and highest in MLP2 and MLP5 groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of MLP at 5000 mg/kg enhanced performance, oxidative status, influenced metabolic hormones, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens raised under high ambient temperature.

Ameliorative effects of Sida acuta and vitamin C on serum DNA damage, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in roosters fed aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets.

The ameliorative effects of Sida acuta leaf meal (SALM) and vitamin C on the serum pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as DNA damage of cocks fed aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminated diets were examined. The experiment was a completely randomized design with a total of 250 sexually mature Isa White cocks aged 24 weeks, randomly allotted into five experimental diets; each diet contained 5 replicates with 10 roosters. The diets were A (control/basal diet), B (A + 1 mg/kg AFB1), C (B + 200 mg/kg vitamin C), D (B + 2.5 g/kg SALM) and E (B + 5.0 g/kg SALM). Fresh and clean water was also provided for the whole experimental period of twelve weeks. Inclusion of 1 mg/kg AFB1 without vitamin C or SALM increased TNF-α and IL-1ß as well as 8-OHdG and NF-κB in the serum significantly (P < 0.05) among the cocks on diet B. However, the fortification of AFB1 contaminated diets with vitamin C and SALM depressed serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, 8-OHdG and NF-κB concentrations of the cocks significantly (P < 0.05). Conversely, serum IL-4 and IL-10 in birds given 1 mg/kg AFB1 without vitamin C or SALM decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with the roosters on the control. However, improvements (P < 0.05) in IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations with corresponding reduction (P < 0.05) in TNF-α, IL-1ß, 8-OHdG and NF-κB concentrations were recorded among cocks fed Diets C, D and E, respectively. Therefore, dietary addition of SALM at the level used in this study was beneficial and has comparable effects with inorganic antioxidant (C vitamin) by significantly reducing the inflammatory cytokines and oxidative damage biomarkers as well as enhancing the anti-inflammatory cytokines thereby promoting the health status of the cocks fed AFB1 contaminated ration.

Serum and meat antioxidative status of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with garlic rhizome meal, moringa leaf meal and their composite.

Serum and breast meat antioxidative status of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with moringa leaf meal (MLM), garlic rhizome meal (GRM) and their composite were assessed. Ninety-six-day old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly allotted to four treatment diets: Diet 1 (control), Diet 2 (2.5 g/kg MLM), Diet 3 (2.5 g/kg GRM) and Diet 4 (1.25 g/kg MLM + 1.25 g/kg GRM). Serum superoxide dismutase concentrations were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the diets, whereas there were increased serum catalase concentrations across all the treatment diets with birds on Diet 4 showing significantly (P < 0.05) higher means than those on the control. For the serum glutathione peroxidase, significant (P < 0.05) increases were observed among the broilers on Diets 2 to 4 with those on Diet 2 showing the highest significant difference (P < 0.05) with birds on the control diet. The meat catalase and cholesterol concentrations of the breast meat were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the phytoadditives. However, significant (P < 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed across the treatment diets when compared with the control, while the phytoadditives enhanced the breast meat glutathione peroxidase among the broilers on the Diets 2 and 4.