The antioxidant function of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. alcoholic extract in heat-stressed broilers

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Animal Nutrition
• Immunology

Background:

• High ambient temperatures induce heat stress in broilers, negatively impacting their antioxidant capacity, immune function, and overall health.
• Oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA) increase, while antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decrease under heat stress.
• Heat stress also compromises immune responses, evidenced by reduced immunoglobulin Y (IgY) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels and lower antibody titers against diseases like Newcastle disease virus (NDV).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of dietary Piper sarmentosum leaf extract (PSE) as a natural supplement to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress on broiler chickens.
• To assess the impact of PSE on antioxidant capacity, immune status, jejunal morphology, meat quality, and performance of broilers exposed to high ambient temperatures.

Main Methods:

• A total of 240 male Cobb-500 broilers were divided into four groups: thermoneutral control, heat stress control, heat stress with 100 mg/kg PSE, and heat stress with 300 mg/kg PSE.
• Broilers were fed their respective diets from day 1 to 35, with heat stress applied cyclically from day 22 to 35.
• Measurements included antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, GPx, SOD), serum immunoglobulin levels (IgY, IgM), NDV antibody titers, MDA concentrations, and growth performance parameters.

Main Results:

• Heat-stressed broilers (HS-control) showed significantly reduced IgY levels, NDV antibody titers, CAT, GPx, and SOD activities, alongside increased MDA concentrations compared to thermoneutral controls.
• Dietary PSE supplementation (100 and 300 mg/kg) effectively reversed these negative effects, restoring antioxidant enzyme activities and enhancing immunoglobulin levels and NDV antibody titers.
• PSE supplementation at 100 mg/kg was sufficient to restore antioxidant and immune functions to levels comparable to or exceeding the thermoneutral control group, with minimal impact on growth performance.

Conclusions:

• Dietary Piper sarmentosum leaf extract (PSE) is an effective natural feed supplement for improving antioxidant capacity and immune function in broilers subjected to heat stress.
• An inclusion level of 100 mg/kg of PSE demonstrates significant benefits in mitigating heat stress-induced oxidative damage and immune suppression.
• PSE holds promise as a cost-effective strategy to enhance broiler resilience and health under challenging environmental conditions.