The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of boerhavia elegans and vitamin E on performance and antioxidant status of broilers in diets containing oxidized oil

This study was performed to compare the effects of levels of hydroalcoholic extract of boerhavia elegans and vitamin E in diets containing oxidized oil on yield, activity of antioxidant enzymes and meat quality of broilers. An experiment was carried out with a 480 Ross 308 one-day-old broilers in a 2×2 ×3 factorial (two levels of zero and 2 percent oxidized oil, two levels of 0 and 200 mg/kg α-Tocopherol (α-Toc) and three levels of 0, 100 and 200 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of  boerhavia elegans (HEBE) in the diet) with 12 treatments and 4 replicates in 10 chickens, in order to the effect of different levels of α -Toc and HEBE on diets containing oxidized oil percentage on performance, antioxidant enzyme activity and meat quality. Feed intake (FI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chicks was measured periodically. To determine the viability of the meat at the age of 42 days, the amount of malon di aldehyde (MDA) of thighs stored after one month of slaughter was examined. Serum activity of SOD and GPX enzymes was measured by from the brachial vein blood sampling prior to slaughter. The results showed that the FI, DBW and FCR of chicks were affected by the experimental diets (P<0.05). Chickens fed oxidized oil showed decreased levels of SOD and GPX enzymes. Addition of HEBE increased serum SOD enzyme. Diets containing HEBE and vitamin E simultaneously showed the lowest levels of MDA in meat. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were reduced by diets containing the extract HEBE. The results showed that the addition of 100 mg/kg of HEBE along with 200 mg of α-toc improved the antioxidant defense system and performance in broiler chickens under oxidative stress.