Effect of herbal antioxidant supplementation on blood biochemicals in broilers during summer

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of Amla (Emblica officinalis), Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus) and Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) on blood biochemical during summer in broiler from 0–6 weeks of age. The 120, one day old chicks (Vencobb) were distributed into four treatment groups having 30 chicks in each. The basal starter and finisher diets were supplemented with Amla fruit powder, Shatawari root powder and Tulsi leaf powder @ 0.5 per cent each in T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups respectively whereas, T₀ group was maintained as control. The daily record of environmental and in-house temperature was maintained. The average maximum and minimum environmental temperature during the experimental period was recorded to be 44.18°C and 26.82°C respectively, whereas average in-house temperature during day hours was 40.34°C. The blood samples were collected during sixth week and subjected to biochemical analysis, which revealed lipid peroxidation (LPO) value of 3.96 nM.MDA/ml in control group which was significantly (P<0.01) higher than T₁(3.42 nM.MDA/ml) and T₃(3.20nM.MDA/ml) groups The observed SGOT values were significantly (P<0.05) lower in treatment groups than control. The estimated BUN value in T₀, T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups however did not differed significantly. The serum alkaline phosphatase values in T₁, T₂, T₃ were significantly lower than control group.

The biochemical study indicated better antioxidant performance with Emblica officinalis and Ocimum Sanctum followed by Asparagus racemosus at 0.5 per cent level of dietary supplementation in broilers during summer.