Effects of Brown Seaweed Extract Nanoparticles on Liver Enzymes of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of brown seaweed extract nanoparticles on liver enzymes of broiler chickens. The drinking water of broiler chickens were treated with no additive (negative control), zinc bacitracin (0.25 g/L; positive control), brown seaweed extracts (2.50 or 5.00 g/L), or brown seaweed extracts nanoparticles (25 or 50 mL/L). The safety of water additives was observed through the serum concentration of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase:alanine aminotransferase ratio as the biochemical marker for hepatocellular injury. Results showed that aspartate aminotransferase was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the chicks treated with zinc bacitracin, when compared to the negative control. Meanwhile, both brown seaweed extracts and brown seaweed extracts nanoparticles did not alter aspartate aminotransferase compared to negative control. Water additives showed negligible effects on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase:alanine aminotransferase ratio. It could be concluded that brown seaweed extract nanoparticles could be considered as a safe drinking water additive for broiler chickens.