Effects of Forsythia suspensa Extract on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Antioxidant Activities in Broiler Chickens Under High Ambient Temperature

Abstract

A 42-d trial was conducted with 252 broiler chickens (d 1 of age, 38.8 +/- 1.3 g of BW) to determine the effects of Forsythia suspensa extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and antioxidant activities under high ambient temperature (32 +/- 1 degrees C). The feeding program consisted of a starter diet from d 1 to 21 of age and a finisher diet from d 22 to 42 of age. Dietary treatments included a negative control group (NC) fed a cornsoybean meal based diet without vitamin C or Forsythia suspensa extract, a positive control group fed a diet with 200 mg of vitamin C/kg, and a test group (FS) fed with 100 mg of Forsythia suspensa extract/kg. There were 14 cages per treatment and 6 birds per cage during the study. Birds had free access to diets and water during the entire period. Body weight and feed intake were measured at d 21 and 42. Blood and tissue samples were collected at d 21 and 42 for assay of antioxidant indices. Growth performance did not differ among treatment groups during the starter period. In the finisher phase, birds in FS had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain, feed conversion, and apparent digestibility of energy, CP, calcium, and phosphorus than birds in NC. Furthermore, birds in FS had greater (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity and lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde activity in the serum than birds in NC. The FS birds had greater (P < 0.05) muscle superoxide dismutase activity and lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde than NC birds. During the entire period, hepatic superoxide dismutase activity of FS birds was greater (P < 0.05) than that of NC birds. Dietary supplementation with Forsythia suspensa extract can enhance nutrient digestibility and growth performance possibly by reducing oxidative stress of broiler chickens under high ambient temperatures.

Growth performance and gut health parameters of finishing broilers supplemented with plant extracts and exposed to daily increased temperature

“…The phenolic and flavonoid contents were lower than data reported by other authors (Wang et al, 2008;Ghasemi et al, 2009), e.g. using similar analytical methods.…”

Effects of &lt;i&gt;γ&lt;/i&gt;-aminobutyric acid on the tissue structure, antioxidant activity, cell apoptosis, and cytokine contents of bursa of Fabricius in chicks under heat stress

“…Studies have indicated that the body can produce reactive oxygen species under heat stress (Khar et al, 2006;Del Vesco and Gasparino, 2013), and the antioxidant activity of tissues can be determined by measuring the activity of SOD and GSH-PX, and MDA content in tissues (Wang et al, 2008;Starrs et al, 2001). In this study, we found a significant difference in the total SOD activity in the BF tissue among the three groups in week 3 and 6 only.…”

Evaluation of Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Sensory Attributes of the Broiler Fed a Diet supplemented with Curry Leaves (Murraya koenigii)

“…Curry leaves have also shown anti-oxidative activity, immunomodulatory activity, hepatoprotective activity and antiinflammatory activity (Jain et al, 2012). Dietary antioxidants supplement suggested as efficient way to reduce heat stresses and improve growth performances in broilers (Wang et al, 2008). Hence, the supplementation of curry leaves powder in this study might reduce broiler oxidative stress, enhanced oxidative stability via reduce oxidative free radicals and balance in antioxidant status.…”

“…Correspondingly, our presenting data for feed intake observed no difference (P>0.05), when broiler fed diet supplemented with curry leaves with same energy level and nitrogen level from 1 to 32 days of age. Contradictory was reported, supplementation of antioxidant improved feed intake of broiler reared under high ambient temperature (Wang et al, 2008).…”