Evaluation the effect of mulberry (Morus alba) leaf ethanoic extract on blood, serum and antioxidant parameters of broiler chickens under cold stress

In this study, the effect of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract on blood, serum and antioxidant parameters of broiler chickens under cold stress was investigated. A total of 108 one-day old broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 3 groups and each group included of 36 chicks with 3 replicates. Experimental treatments were: control group and two levels of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract, which respectively were fed with basal diet and levels of 0.05% and 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract. Malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity of serum, PCV, heterophile to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, right ventricle to total ventricle (RV/TV) ratio, serum biochemical factors and humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated. The results of this study showed that RV/TV ratio was lower in mulberry leaf ethanoic extract, and this difference was statistically significant in the group 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract (P<0.05). The H/L ratio was reduced in the level 0.1% of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract (P<0.05). PCV levels decreased insignificantly in mulberry leaf treatments. Serum nitric oxide increased in 0.1% of mulberry leaf group (P<0.05). Triglyceride level decreased significantly in the group 0.05% and LDL-C level decreased significantly at both levels of 0.05 and 0.1% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). HDL-C increased significantly at the level 0.05% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). Serum malondialdehyde decreased significantly in mulberry leaf treatments and total antioxidant capacity of serum increased significantly at the level 0.05% of mulberry leaf (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in uric acid, total protein and serum cholesterol level. Humoral and cellular immunity increased insignificantly. Mortality decreased in mulberry leaf treatments but it was not significant. In conclusion the present study showed that the addition of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract to broiler chickens diet improved the antioxidant parameters and increased nitric oxide, decreased RV/TV ratio, blood lipid levels and mortality, so can be effective in preventing ascetic syndrome.