Effect of Poultry Feed Supplemented With Hypericum Perforatum Extract and Virginiamycine on Growth Performance, Some Immune Responses and Intestinal Microbial Population of Broilers

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of adding Hypericum perforatum to drinkable water in comparison to virginiamycine on performance of broilers and thus on improvement and increase welfare and growth. A total of 400 , one day old broiler chicks with an average weight of 37±50 g were divided into 5 treatment groups and were further subdivided into 4 replicates. The treatments were divided as basal diet with no Hypericum perforatum extract kept as control, and for others 150 mg/l (S1), 200 mg/l (S2) and 250 mg/l (S3) of herbal extract in their Drinking water and virginiamycine (S4) were used respectively. The live body weight gains and feed consumption of birds were measured individually feed conversion efficiency were calculated weekly. At the end of the trial for investigating the effect of using Hypericum perforatum and virginiamycine on performance of broilers, 3 birds form each replicates were slaughtered and some blood samples were taken for determination HDL, LDL, Triglyceride levels and antibody titer against Newcastle vaccine. Data showed that use of S1, S2 and S3 and S4 increased FI significantly (P<0.05) in comparison to control. Also BW and Pre-slaughter weigh at the end of the experiment were also significantly higher (P<0.05) in experimental groups compared to the control. Liver percentage was significantly induced were broilers fed with experimental diets (p<0.05). There were significant differences (p<0.05) for heart percentage between treatments. Using of herbal plant extract could reduce abdominal fat percentage statistically (p<0.05).Percentage of gizzard was higher in the control group and it was at the lowest in virginiamycine group (p<0.05). triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL level decreased significantly in the treated groups while HDL level increased significantly in S1, S2 ,S3and S4. Antibody titers were significantly higher (p<0.05) when broilers were fed by S1, S2, S3and S4. It was determined that herbal and virginiamycine had significant effects on HI test (p<0.05) that compared to control group. Data showed that E. coli population decreased in S1, S2, S3 and S4 while Lactobacillus population increased significantly in S4, S3,S2 and S1 respectively (p<0.05).

Effects of Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Seed Oil and St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) Extract Supplementation into Diets of Laying Hens at Different Levels on Performance, Egg Quality and Some Blood Parameters

“…Similarly, Davoodi et al (2014) also reported that Hypericum perforatum extract (150,200 and 250 mg/L) added to the drinking water of broilers lowered plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL levels while increasing HDL levels. The present study was proposed to determine the effects of different doses (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) of grape seed oil and Hypericum perforatum L. extract supplementation into the diets of laying hens on performance, egg quality, and some blood parameters.…”

The effects of the mixture of betaine, vitamin C, St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), lavender, and Melissa officinalis on performance and some physiological parameters in broiler chickens exposed to heat stress

“…There are a multitude of studies reporting either a positive or no effect of extracts on carcass traits. For example, there are reports about St John's wort, as one component of SBM, resulting in a better carcass yield ( Davoodi et al, 2014 ) or no effect altogether ( Landy et al, 2012 ); or lavender, another component of SBM, showing to have no effects on carcass yield and relative weights of breast, thigh, and other parts of the carcass ( Salajegheh et al, 2018 ; Salarmoini et al, 2019 ). This inconsistency may be due to the different approaches of application, the level of usage, or other environmental and management factors such as hygiene, the duration of heat exposure or the extent of heat stress.…”

“…Many studies also confirm the positive effects of herbal extracts on blood constituents. In this regard, Davoodi et al (2014) revealed that adding St John's wort to the diets of broiler chickens increased feed intake, body weight, serum HDL level, and antibody titers, and decreased abdominal fat, serum triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL levels. Similarly, Sosnówka-Czajka and Skomorucha (2013) have found a decrease in serum cholesterol by using St John's wort.…”

“…On the other hand, much attention has been attracted to extracts, essential oils, and herbs in recent years which has root in traditionally use for overall improvement in sensory characteristics of foods and their shelf-life. In poultry industry such substances have been used for many purposes, from battling against oxidative and heat stress and improving overall performance ( Habibi et al, 2014 ; Ghazi et al, 2015 ; Behboodi et al, 2017 ; Baradaran et al, 2019 ; Barbarestani et al, 2020 ; Cai et al, 2020 ), carcass quality ( Brzóska et al, 2010 ) to boosting immune ( Davoodi et al, 2014 ; Sedaghat and Karimi Torshizi, 2017 ) and reproductive function ( Sedaghat et al, 2016 ), to name a few. St John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum L. ) is one of such examples comprising a high proportion of bioactive agents such as flavonoids, hyperforin, and hypericin with considerable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, showing promising effects in broiler chickens ( Landy et al, 2012 ).…”