The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Leek (Allium ampeloprasum L) on Yield, Immune Status, and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Broilers

This study aimed to compare experimental treatments containing Leek extract with Phosphoflavomycin growth-promoter antibiotic using 160 Ross-308 day-old chicks in a completely randomized design manner with 4 experimental treatments, 4 replicates, and 10 chicks per replicate for 42 days. Treatments consisted of 1) control group (basal diet); 2) basal diet with Phosphoflavomycin antibiotic growth promoter (0.04%); 3) basal diet with 0.3% Leek ethanolic extract; and 4) basal diet with 0.5% Leek ethanolic extract (P≤0.05). Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, visceral weights, antibody production against Influenza and Newcastle diseases, biochemical parameters of Glucose, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL, LDL, Albumin, Total Protein, and AST were not affected by different treatments (P≥0.05). However, both groups fed Leek extract (0.3% and 0.5% of diet) increased serum levels of liver enzymes of ALT and ALP significantly, compared with Phosphoflavomycin growth promoter (P≤0.05). Based on the findings of the current study, it can be concluded that consumption of Leek ethanolic extract (0.5% of the diet) showed a significant enhancement on the body weight of broilers, with no impact on visceral weights, immune status, and blood biochemical indices.