Evaluation the effect of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and angelica (Heracleum persicum) extracts in comparison with oxytetracycline and probiotice Primalac® on immune response, ileum microflora and jejunal morphological characteristics of broilers

The aim of this experiment was to determine the effects of anise and angelica extracts (200 mg/kg) in comparison with antibiotics oxytetracycline (200 mg/kg) and probiotic Primalace® (100 mg/kg) on immune response, ileal microflora and jejunal morphological characteristics of broilers. A total of 400 Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned in a completely randomized design to five experimental treatments. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates and 20 one-day old chicks per replication. The evaluation of immune response of chicks was conducted by injecting 5% SRBC suspension, assessment of ileal microflora by removing the ileum contents of the birds and examination of jejunal morphological characteristics by cutting the middle part of the jejunum after slaughter. The results of this study showed that experimental treatments had no significant effect on antibody titer against SRBC. The frequency of heterophils and heterophile to lymphocyte ratio decreased significantly affected by anise and angelica extracts (P<0.05). The total population of aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Coliform bacteria decreased significantly by angelica extract (P<0.05). All treatments containing additive caused significant increase in jejunum villus height when compared to control treatment (P<0.05). The villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunal was significantly increased by anise and angelica extracts (P<0.05). Generally, the results of this experiment showed that the use of anise and angelica extracts by amount of 200 mg/kg diet may improve immune response, reduce the harmful ileal microflora and improve jejunal morphological characteristics of broiler chickens.