Effect of using Basil powder and extract on performance, carcass characteristics and heat shock protein gene expression in broiler chickens under heat stress

Effect of Basil powder and extract on yield and carcass characteristics, relative expression of heat shock protein gene (HSP70) and someblood parameters of broiler chickens under heat stress using 160 Ross 308 one-day-old broiler chicks in a completely randomized designwith 5 treatments and 4 replications (8 chickens per replication), was evaluated for 42 days. Treatments included: 1- Basic diet (control), 2-Basic diet+ Vitamin C (250 mg per kg of grain), 3- Basic diet + 25 mg of Basil powder (per kg of grain), 4- Basic diet +50 mg of Basilpowder (per kg of grain), 5- The use of Basil extract (1 ml/liter water). Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcasscharacteristics, blood parameters and relative expression of HSP70 gene in blood were measured. The effects of treatments on bloodparameters and carcass characteristics were not significant. Relative expression of the HSP70 gene in the blood was significantly reduced inall treatments compared to the control (P<0.05). Based on the results, basil powder and extract reduce the negative effects of heat stress inbroilers, so their use in broiler diets is recommended to prevent heat stress.