Effect of turmeric and ginger supplementation on immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers

Abstract

Day-old broiler chicks (182) were distributed randomly to 7 treatments with 2 replicates. Treatments were T1 (control), basal diet; T2, basal diet + turmeric powder (TP) (0.5% of basal diet); T3, basal diet + TP (1% of basal diet); T4, basal diet + ginger powder (GP) (0.5% of basal diet); T5, basal diet + GP (1% of basal diet); T6, basal diet + TP + GP (0.5% TP + 0.5% GP); T7, basal diet + TP + GP (1% TP + 1.0% GP). The experiment was continued for 35 days. Immunity, antioxidant, liver enzyme activity, gut bacterial load and histopathology of broilers were conducted at fifth week of age. Higher cellular response against PHA-P was recorded in T3 and T7. Higher antibody titre against SRBC was recorded in T3. The weight of lymphoid organs did not differ significantly. Significantly higher erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) level was recorded in T1. Significantly higher alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were found in T1 and T7. Significantly higher aspartate amino transferase (AST) level was found in T1. Higher total bacterial count and lower E. coli count were recorded in group T3 and lower total bacterial count was recorded in T7. In group T1, liver showed mild congestion to mild cellular swelling and varying degree of vacuolar degeneration. From this study, it may be concluded that supplementation of 1% turmeric in ration either alone or in combination with 1% ginger improved the immunity, antioxidant status and gut health of broilers.