Citrullus colocynthis Seeds: A Potential Natural Immune Modulator Source for Broiler Reared under Chronic Heat Stress

Abstract

There is an extensive search for natural products that can be introduced to broiler rations to improve performance, especially during the unfavorable breeding conditions. Under heat-stress conditions, the immune response seriously deteriorates, which consequently impairs broiler production performance. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potentials of Citrullus colocynthis seeds (CCs) supplementation to modulate the immune response of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress. A total of 300 Cobb-500 male broiler chickens aged 21 days were randomly divided into two equal groups and reared under either thermo-neutral condition (24 ± 1 °C) or subjected to cyclic heat stress (34 ± 1 °C for 8 h). Each group was further divided into two groups (5 replicate × 15 chicks) and was fed either the basal diet or the basal diet with 0.1% CCs supplementation. The results showed that heat stress impaired the production performance by lowering the final body weight and feed intake as well as impairing feed conversion. The levels of stress markers (i.e., malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α and corticosterone) increased (p < 0.05), whereas the activity of antioxidant enzymes decreased in broilers exposed to heat stress. Further, heat stress caused direct suppression of broiler humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The stimulating index of T and B lymphocytes proliferation, as well as the antibody titer against sheep red blood cells, were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by heat-stress exposure. However, CCs supplementation to broilers subjected to heat stress improved (p < 0.05) the final body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the non-supplemented stressed group. The cellular and cell-mediated immune response indicators significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) with CCs supplementation. Supplementation of CCs to broilers reared under similar environmental conditions elevated the total white blood cells (TWBCs) count and the broiler stimulating index of T and B lymphocytes. It can be concluded that CC seeds can be effectively used to stimulate the immune response and improve the production performance of broilers reared under heat-stress condition.

Data_Sheet_1.pdf

“…It is well described that HS activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis followed by an elevation in the secretion of stress hormone, CORT (42). The results of this study and that of previous studies (43)(44)(45)(46) indicated that increased plasma CORT in the HS layers led to an elevation in the H/L ratio and an inhibition in the lymphocyte proliferation (TSI and BSI). The increased H/L ratio in the HS layer group could be attributed to endotoxins and heterophils infiltration from damaged mucosal intestines in these birds (47).…”

Effect of Organic Selenium-Enriched Yeast on Relieving the Deterioration of Layer Performance, Immune Function, and Physiological Indicators Induced by Heat Stress

“…In the recent years, our previous studies have focused on understanding the physiological mechanisms behind the negative effects of heat stress on poultry production ( 43 , 45 ) and suggested nutritional strategies to minimize the deterioration induced by HS in different poultry species ( 36 , 44 , 50 ). In this trend, SY was supplemented into diets of laying hens and considerable results were obtained in this study.…”

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad (Bitter Apple Fruit): Promising Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Effects, Aspects, and Potential Applications

“…In a separate study, CCS was fed via feed to 300 Cobb 21-day-old broiler chickens subjected to chronic heat stress at the rate of 0.1%. The result showed that this supplementation rate improved immune response and production performance in the heat-stressed group but had no effect on a control (thermo-neutral) group (Alzarah et al, 2021). The promising effects of C. colocynthis for poultry nutrition are shown in Figure 5.…”

“…CCS are anti-microbial, immune-stimulating, and enhance growth. CCSP improves production performance and alleviates immune suppression ( Alzarah et al, 2021 ). CCS contains 13.5% protein, is rich in methionine and cysteine, and is limited in lysine.…”