Effect of Portulaca oleracea L. extract on growth performance, blood biochemical indices, immune response and jejunal morphology of broiler chickens reared at heat stress

This study was to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleracea L. extract(POE) on performance, carcass characteristics, immune response, blood indices and intestinal morphology in broilers under heat stress. 200 Ross 308 single-day-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replications and 10 chicks. Experimental groups were: negative control (no heat stress), four groups under heat stress (positive control), 250, 500 and 750mg of POE per kg diet. Results showed that using POE increased feed intake and body weight compared to the control (P <0.05). Chicks fed POE had lower feed conversion ratio than positive control group (P<0.05). Addition of POE to broiler diet had no effect on relative weight of carcass components including breast, thigh, spleen, bile, pancreas and abdominal fat. The POE reduced the relative weight of heart and liver compared to the positive control and the relative weight of bursa was higher in the chicks fed the POE (P<0.05). The POE increased total antibody titer against sheep red blood cells. Using the POE in broiler diet had no effect on plasma concentration albumin and protein, but the lowest concentration of cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and highest HDL were observed broilers fed 750 POE. The activity of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes decreased during heat stress compared to negative control. POE increased villus height and absorption area compared to control(P<0.05). It is concluded that using POE reduced plasma concentration of cholesterol, LDL, and plasma MDA in broilers under heat stress.