Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
S. Masoud-Moghaddam; J. Mehrzad; A.H. Alizadeh Ghamsari; R. Bahari Kashani; J. Saeidi
Abstract
This study aimed at comparing the effects of four commercial herbal additives and a growth-promoting antibiotic (virginiamycin) on the productive traits, some blood biochemical parameters, and serum hepatic enzymes activity of broilers. Nine hundred one day-old male broilers (Ross 308 strain) were used ...
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This study aimed at comparing the effects of four commercial herbal additives and a growth-promoting antibiotic (virginiamycin) on the productive traits, some blood biochemical parameters, and serum hepatic enzymes activity of broilers. Nine hundred one day-old male broilers (Ross 308 strain) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates of 30 birds. The experimental treatments included the diets containing Noviherb®, Bioessence®, and Biostrong® (each at a rate of 100 g ton-1 of diet), diet containing Novigrow® (1000 g ton-1 of diet), and diet containing virginiamycin (100 g ton-1 of diet) as positive control. The amount of feed intake, body weight, mortality percentage, feed conversion ratio, and European broiler index were measured during 1 to 42 days of broilers age. At the 28 and 42 days of age, the blood samples were taken from four birds per replicate and the blood parameters including the concentration of total protein, uric acid, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase serum enzymes were measured. The results showed that the effects of tested herbal additives on the performance and European broiler index were not significant in comparison with the antibiotic. The concentration of blood parameters and the activity of serum liver enzymes at the 28 and 42 days of age were not affected by the experimental treatments. Based on these results, the additives evaluated could be suitable alternatives to the growth-promoting antibiotics without adversely affecting the performance and serum biochemical parameters of broilers.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
F. Pourasghar; H.R. Aliakbarpour; Gh. Maliji
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract and its usage schedule on the immune system, biochemical parameters, and growth yield of male broilers. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replications. The ...
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract and its usage schedule on the immune system, biochemical parameters, and growth yield of male broilers. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments and four replications. The treatments included 1: without purple coneflower extract (control), 2: daily usage, and 3: every-other-day usage of purple coneflower extract (1.5 ml of the extract per liter of water). Records of the broilers body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were investigated in the starter, grower and finisher nutritional stages. The blood biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, albumin, and total protein), bronchitis virus titer, heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio, and immune organs weight were determined at the end of the experiment (42-day-old age). The results showed that the yield characteristics, heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratio, and immune organs weight did not differ significantly between the experimental groups. The highest bronchitis virus titer was observed in the daily extract usage treatment (p < 0.05). The blood glucose level in the daily extract usage treatment was lower than the control (p < 0.05), but the other blood biochemical parameters did not differ significantly between the experimental treatments. The results of the present study revealed that the daily usage of purple coneflower extract (1.5 ml of the extract per liter of water) could decrease the blood glucose level and increase the bronchitis virus titer.
A. Oftadeh fadafan; M.H. AminiFard
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most important and precious medicinal plants in the world. In order to investigate the effects of different of municipal waste vermicompost on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of leaf and corm of saffron, an experiment was conducted based on a randomized ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most important and precious medicinal plants in the world. In order to investigate the effects of different of municipal waste vermicompost on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of leaf and corm of saffron, an experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, University of Birjand during the growing season of 2015. The treatments included four levels of municipal waste vermicompost (0, 5, 10 and 15 t.ha-1). Results showed that municipal waste vermicompost in the second year improved the reproductive characteristics so that the highest flower yield was obtained from 10 t.ha-1 municipal waste vermicompost (22.5g.m-2) and the highest dry stigma yield was obtained from 5 t.ha-1 municipal waste vermicompost (0.44g.m-2). The highest average leaf number (8.36), average fresh weight and dry weight of leaf (0.33 and 0.099 g, respectively) were obtained in plants treated with 15 t.ha-1 municipal waste vermicompost and the highest leaf length (249.3 mm) was obtained at 10 t.ha-1. Application of this organic fertilizer could have a significant effect on chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content and SPAD. The highest photosynthetic pigments were obtained from application of 10 t.ha-1 municipal waste vermicompost. The characteristics of the corm including the number of cormel, fresh and dry weight of cormel and number of cormel buds were affected by municipal waste vermicompost treatment. The highest number of cormel was obtained from plants treated with 10 t.ha-1. Also results showed that treatment of 5 t.ha-1 of municipal waste vermicompost had the greatest effect on fresh and dry weight of cormel. This treatment improved the number of cormel (33/1) as compared with control (5). Thus, results showed that municipal waste vermicompost had strong impact on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron.
S.R. Tabaei-Aghdaei; M. Abootorabi Najafabadi; M.H. Lebaschi; A. Najafi-Ashtiani; A.A. Jafari; F. Sefidkon; L. Mirjani
Abstract
To evaluate biomass and oil percentage at flowering stage in different accessions of medicinal plants Satureja spicigera (C. Koch) Boiss. (spic1, spic2, spic3)and S. sahendica Bornm. (sah1, sah2, sah3, sah4, sah5, sah6)under dry farming condition, an experiment was carried out based on three-replicated ...
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To evaluate biomass and oil percentage at flowering stage in different accessions of medicinal plants Satureja spicigera (C. Koch) Boiss. (spic1, spic2, spic3)and S. sahendica Bornm. (sah1, sah2, sah3, sah4, sah5, sah6)under dry farming condition, an experiment was carried out based on three-replicated randomized complete block design in Damavand, Iran in 2014. Variance analysis showed significant differences (P<0.01) between two species for all the traits with the higher values for S. spicigera. Based on means comparison, higher dry shoot weight per plant(108.5 g) was detected in S. spicigera compared to S. sahendica with 25.82g. The highest amount of dry shoot weight per plant was obtained from spic2 accession (183.5g) in S. spicigera and from sah2 (45.51 g) in S. sahendica.Also, S. spicigera showed higher oil content (2.65%) compared to S. sahendica with 1.34%. Spic2 with the highest amount of oil (2.90%, 36.10 kg/ha) could be the best accession for cultivation under dry farming condition of Damavand. Considering lower plant canopy diameter in S. sahendica (32.19 cm) compared to S. spicigera (54.90cm), biomass and oil yield increase is possible with higher plant density. Furthermore, considering dry shoot weigh, plant height, plant canopy and day to flowering as selection indices, sah2 could be proposed as superior genotype of S. sahendica for dry land farming in Damavand or similar climates.
M. Hamidi; Sh. Rahimi; N. Mojghani
Abstract
In this study, the effect of probiotics, extract powder of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) were investigated on blood parameters, immune response, carcass characteristics and performance of broilers. Three hundred and thirty six broiler chicks (Ross 308) were housed in ...
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In this study, the effect of probiotics, extract powder of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) were investigated on blood parameters, immune response, carcass characteristics and performance of broilers. Three hundred and thirty six broiler chicks (Ross 308) were housed in a completely randomized design with six treatments, four replicates and 14 birds in each experimental unit and reared on litter for 42 days. The treatments consisted of 1) basal diet + probiotic Hyprozyme, 2) basal diet + Bactocell, 3) basal diet + Prophyt (extract powder thyme + Hyprozyme + licorice), 4) basal diet + Phytobiotic (extract powder thyme + licorice), 5) control and 6) basal diet + antibiotic. The experimental diets were fed from day one until end of the experiment (day 42). Statistical analysis of data showed significant difference (P≤0.05) of FCR in probiotic Hyprozyme group ratio compared to the control group. Feed consumption was lowest (P≤0.05) in treatment 1 compared to others. The treatments had no significant effect on carcass characteristics. The relative weight of bursa Fabricius in antibiotic supplemented group was significantly different with treatment 3 (P≤0.05). Statistical analysis of the results showed significant difference (P≤0.05) of serum cholesterol in Bactocell group compared to control group. Addition of Haprozym to basal diet significantly increased (P≤0.05) the total protein and triglyceride levels compared to control group. Serum globulin was statistically higher (P≤0.05) in treatments 1, 3 and 4 compared to control group. The highest antibody titer against SRBC was observed in Bactocell group compared to control group (P≤0.05). Overall, it can be stated that the use of resources such as hypro-zyme (732gr/ton) and phytobiotic can be introduced as antibiotic alternatives in poultry production.
B. Poursina; P. Soleimani Roudi; M. Sedghi; A. Taibipour
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and especially chicory (Chicorium intybus L.) leaves on performance and intestinal morphology of broilers using 360 one-day old chicks, in a completely randomized design with three treatments, ...
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and especially chicory (Chicorium intybus L.) leaves on performance and intestinal morphology of broilers using 360 one-day old chicks, in a completely randomized design with three treatments, three replicates and 40 chickens in each replicate (20 male and 20 female). Treatments were arranged in: control group, 3Kg of chicory for treatment 2 and 1Kg of peppermint+1Kg of thyme+1Kg of chicory for treatment 3. The entire experimental period was divided into three phases; 1-10 days, 11-24 days and 25-42 days. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. On 42th day, to assess the effects of treatments on villus length, crypt depth and the ratio of the villus height to the crypt depth in Jejunum and ileum, 6 birds from each treatment were slaughtered. Results indicated that the addition of these herbal plants, significantly increased body weight gain, feed consumption and improved feed conversion ratio (p<0.05). The maximum body weight gain and the best feed conversion ratio were related to the chicory treatment and the most of feed consumption was related to the third treatment (p<0.05). The morphological measurements of the jejunum, ileum and the ratio of the villus height to the crypt depth showed no response to dietary inclusion of these plants as compared with the control diet (p>0.05). In conclusion, the results from the current study suggest that feeding peppermint, thyme and especially chicory increases the growth performance and had no effect on intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.
A. Nobakht
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of Silybum marianum L. aerial parts powder on performance, egg quality, blood biochemical parameters, and blood cells of laying hens. A number of 240 Hy-line (W36) laying hens from 65 to 76 weeks were used in five treatments and ...
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This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of Silybum marianum L. aerial parts powder on performance, egg quality, blood biochemical parameters, and blood cells of laying hens. A number of 240 Hy-line (W36) laying hens from 65 to 76 weeks were used in five treatments and four replicates (12 birds per each replicate) in a completely randomized design. The powder of Silybum marianum L. was 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of the diet. The results showed that the diet containing 2% of Silybum marianum L., in comparison with control group, increased the amounts of egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed intake (p<0.05).Whereas, the highest amount of egg weight and egg specific gravity and eggshell percentage were observed with 1% of Silybum marianum L. (p<0.01). The use of Silybum marianum L. in diets caused the values of blood triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin and total protein to be decreased (p<0.05). The diet containing 2% Silybum marianum L. had increasing effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin and white blood cells (p<0.05). The overall results indicated that in laying hens, the use of Silybum marianum L. up to 2% of diet significantly improved the performance, egg quality traits, biochemical parameters, and blood cells.
M. Tajodini; F. Samadi; S.R. Hashemi; S. Hassani; A. Ghasemnejad
Abstract
A study was designed to investigate the effects of different levels of artichoke (Cynara scoolymus L.) powder on performance and humoral immune response of broiler chickens from 0-42 days of age. A total of 300 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four treatments consisting of five ...
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A study was designed to investigate the effects of different levels of artichoke (Cynara scoolymus L.) powder on performance and humoral immune response of broiler chickens from 0-42 days of age. A total of 300 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four treatments consisting of five replications with 15 chicks each. The groups were assigned to receive the treatment diets as follows: basal diet (control group) and control diet supplemented with 1.5% and 3% artichoke powder and 300 mg vitamin E. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined during the whole experimental period. The serum antibody level against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) was measured by hemagglutination-inhibition test (HI) in two periods after vaccination during days 14 and 28 and carcass traits of broilers were evaluated at the end of experiment. Results showed that, the titer against Newcastle virus at 42 days of age showed significant difference among treatments, the highest titer was found for the treatment containing 1.5% of the artichokes (p<0.05). Weight of internal organs, except pancreas weight, did not differ among treatments. Generally, this study showed the positive impact of artichoke on immune system of broiler chickens. Therefore it can be used in poultry nutrition.
Z. Ranjbar; F. Shariatmadari; M.A. Karimi Torshizi
Abstract
This experiment was designed to study the effects of feeding diets containing different levels of yucca extract and antibiotic on growth performance, blood parameters, immune system and ascites index. Three hundred and twelve, one-day old broiler chicks (Arian) were used in a completely randomized design ...
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This experiment was designed to study the effects of feeding diets containing different levels of yucca extract and antibiotic on growth performance, blood parameters, immune system and ascites index. Three hundred and twelve, one-day old broiler chicks (Arian) were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments, consisting of three replications and 26 (male & female) chicks per pen. The treatments consisted of control (without supplementation), Yucca schidigera extract at 150 and 225 mg/kg, and virginiamycin at 15 mg/kg up to six weeks of age. Significant differences were found for feed intake, feed efficiency, and body weight gain in the studied treatments (p < 0.01). Immune responses, expressed as a primary and secondary antibody response to SRBC, were affected by treatments (p < 0.01). Treatment groups did not affect the weights of organs (p < 0.05). Effects of treatments on cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL levels, at 35 days of age, were significant on the parameters evaluated in different experimental groups (p < 0.01). The trends observed indicate that Yucca schidigera extract could have beneficial effects on broiler chicks performance.
A. Nobakht; M.R. Rahimzadeh; A.R. Safamehr
Abstract
Due to the ease of application, abundance and lack of significant side effects medicinal plants and their derivatives are used for poultry as effective additives. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of nettle (Urtica dioica L.), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) and ...
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Due to the ease of application, abundance and lack of significant side effects medicinal plants and their derivatives are used for poultry as effective additives. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of nettle (Urtica dioica L.), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) and ziziphora (Ziziphora tenuior L.) on performance, carcass traits, blood hematological and biochemical parameters of broilers. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design including 324 broilers (Ross 308) with 9 treatments and 3 replications (each replication included 12 hens) from age 1 to 42 days. Experimental groups included I) control group with no medicinal plants, and in other treatments the levels of medicinal plants in starter and grower periods were as II) 0.75% III) 0 and 0.75%, IV) 0.75% and 1.5%, V) 1.5% and 0.75%, VI) 0.75% and 1.5%, VII) 0 and 1.5%, VIII) 1.5% and 0, IX) 1.5% in both periods. The results showed that different levels of medicinal plants in starter and grower periods had significant effects on performance, carcass traits and hematological status of broilers (p < 0.05). According to the results, the highest daily weight gain (59.75g), the lowest feed conversion (1.90) the highest carcass percentage (74.04) and the highest percentage of gizzard (2.77) were observed in group 3, whereas the best level of white blood cells was observed in group 9, but there were no significant differences between experimental groups and control group in terms of performance and blood hematological parameters.
N. Jaderi; A. Nobakht; Y. Mehman-navaz
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Satureja hortensis L., Ziziphora tenuir L., Urtica dioica L. and their different mixtures on yield, egg quality, blood and immunity parameters of laying hens. A 23 factorial experimental design was applied with 8 treatments in 1- control treatment ...
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This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Satureja hortensis L., Ziziphora tenuir L., Urtica dioica L. and their different mixtures on yield, egg quality, blood and immunity parameters of laying hens. A 23 factorial experimental design was applied with 8 treatments in 1- control treatment or no medical plants, 2- 2% of S. hortensis, 3- 2% of Z. tenuir, 4- 2% of U. dioica, 5- 2% of (S. hortensis and Z. tenuir), 6- 2% of (S. hortensis and U. dioica), 7- 2% of (Z. tenuir and U. dioica) and 8- 2% of (S. hortensis, Z. tenuir and U. dioica) including 3 replicates in each treatment and 12 hens in each replicate for 12 weeks )25-37 weeks of laying period). The results showed that the use of different medicinal plant mixtures had significant effects on yield, and egg quality of laying hens (P<0.05). Maximum egg yield (86.622%) and egg mass (47.497 g) were recorded for 2% of U. dioica treatment whereas the maximum eggshell weight (5.804g) and unit (94.635%) were obtained by using 2% of S. hortensis. Using 2% of U. dioica also had positive effects on blood biochemical parameters and percentage of immunity cells. According to the results, using 2% of U. dioica in laying hens' diet could have positive effects on their yield, blood biochemical parameters and percentage of immunity cells.
