Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract consumption darkens liver, lowers blood cholesterol, proportional liver and abdominal fat weights in broiler chickens

Abstract

A study with 160-day-old broiler chickens was conducted to investigate the effects of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) extract in drinking water on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), proportional abdominal fat, liver weights and liver color index. The chickens were divided into four groups and received 0 (ZT), 0.2 (LT), 0.4 (MT) or 0.6% (HT) thyme extract from day one to day 42 of age. All the birds receiving the Thyme extract had lower plasma total cholesterol, LDL-c concentrations and proportional liver weights compared with the control birds (P<0.05). Liver absolute weight of MT birds and proportional fat weight of HT birds were lower than those of ZT birds (P<0.05). Liver color index of HT and MT birds was higher than that of ZT birds. In orthogonal comparisons, thyme extract supplementation diminished (P<0.05) the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDLc and VLDL-c, decreased the proportional and absolute liver weight and proportional abdominal fat weight and increased the (P<0.05) liver colour index as compared to control. Significant negative correlation (P<0.01) was found between the thyme extract supplementation and plasma cholesterol, proportional abdominal fat weight and liver proportional weight, and a positive correlation (P<0.01) between the thyme extract supplementation and liver colour index. In conclusion, Thyme consumption in broiler chickens could improve the carcass quality to the consumers and net returns of the producers.

Thyme oil (Thyme vulgaris L.) as a natural growth promoter for broiler chickens reared under hot climate

“…The present results are in line with those reported by Abdulkarimi et al (2011), who found that thyme decreased liver weight due to bile acid deconjugation, and thus reduced fat absorption (Pourmahmoud et al 2013). …”

“…There are three possible methods for the action of thymol: the first is a reduction of harmful microbiota; the second is a boosting of the antioxidant system due to polyphenol constituents (Abdulkarimi et al 2011); the third may be due to increasing feed utilisation and enhancing immunity (Ghazalah & Ali 2008). Thus, the improved feed utilisation of the TO_1 group in the present study may be due to the decrease in the pathogen microflora and thus improved gut ecology and/or increased digestibility of the nutrients.…”

“…Plant extracts, such as essential or volatile oils, are usually utilised in animal feeding and are considered growth and immune enhancers due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and digestion properties (Abdulkarimi et al 2011;Assiri et al 2016;Fallah & Mirzaei 2016). The main functions of volatile essential oils are the control of pathogenic bacteria, the stimulation of endogenous digestive enzyme activity, increasing absorbed nitrogen and the control of excreta odour and ammonia content (B€ ol€ ukbaşi et al 2006;Sethiya 2016).…”

Impact of Dietary Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) on Broiler Chickens Concerning Immunity, Antioxidant Status, and Performance

“…The hypocholesterolemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of thyme may be due to the action of thymol and carvacrol on HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol, which reduced fat absorption from the gut or the lipid catabolism for gluconeogenesis (El-Ghousein and AlBeitawi, 2009;Abdulkarimi et al, 2016).…”

Effects of Rhus coriaria on nutrient composition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and colour of thigh meat in heat-stressed broilers

“…Nowadays, medicinal plants are receiving lots of attention as feed additives (Abdulkarimi et al, 2011;, especially as natural antioxidants. Silybum marianum fruit extract has been reported to reduce the lipid concentration of the thigh muscle and to increase the muscle's resistance to oxidative stress in broilers (Schiavone et al, 2007).…”