Effects of oregano and/or rosemary extracts on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, cecal bacteria, tight junction proteins, and antioxidants-related genes in heat-stressed broiler chickens.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether oregano extract could counteract growth inhibition caused by heat stress in broilers and improve gut health, antioxidant activity, and tight junction protein expression.
Results Summary
Oregano extract at 50 mg/kg improved growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal integrity-related gene expression in heat-stressed broilers, while also reducing oxidative stress markers.
Population
Male broiler chickens exposed to heat stress.
Effective Dosage
50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of oregano extract in diet.
Duration
Not specified in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dietary oregano extract | increase | growth and feed utilization | heat-stressed birds | especially at a concentration of 50 mg/kg | enhanced | #1 |
oregano extract | increase | jejunal protease and amylase activities | heat-stressed birds | - | improved | #2 |
extracts of rosemary and oregano | decrease | IgG and IgM levels | heat-stressed birds | - | significantly reduced | #3 |
Dietary 50 mg oregano extract | increase | intestinal integrity-related genes including jejunal CLDNI, ZO-1, ZO-2, and MUC2 | heat-stressed birds | - | significantly upregulated | #4 |
Dietary 50 mg oregano extract | decrease | hepatic NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expressions | heat-stressed birds | - | significantly downregulated | #5 |
incorporating oregano leaf extract into the diet at a concentration of 50 mg/kg | increase | growth performance | broilers exposed to heat stress | - | improves | #6 |
The study examined the impact of adding oregano extract and/or rosemary to broiler diets to counteract the growth inhibition caused by heat stress (HS). It also investigated the effects on the activity of digestive enzymes, microbiological composition, and the expression of antioxidant and tight junction-related proteins. Three hundred- and fifty-day-old male broilers, were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups, with each group comprising 5 replicates, and each replicate containing 10 chicks in a cage. The diets were: 1) a basal diet, 2) a diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg of rosemary, 3) a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg of rosemary, 4) a diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg of oregano, 5) a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg of oregano, 6) a combination diet containing 50 mg/kg each of rosemary and oregano, and 7) a combination diet containing 100 mg/kg each of rosemary and oregano. Dietary oregano extract enhanced the growth and feed utilization of heat-stressed birds, especially at a concentration of 50 mg/kg. Moreover, oregano extract improved jejunal protease and amylase activities. The extracts of rosemary and oregano significantly reduced IgG and IgM levels. Dietary 50 mg oregano extract significantly upregulated intestinal integrity-related genes including jejunal CLDNI, ZO-1, ZO-2, and MUC2. Dietary 50 mg oregano extract significantly downregulated hepatic NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expressions. Our results suggest that incorporating oregano leaf extract into the diet at a concentration of 50 mg/kg improves the growth performance of broilers exposed to heat stress. This improvement could be attributed to enhanced gut health and the modulation of genes associated with oxidative stress and tight junction proteins.