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Italian Journal of Animal Science
Taylor & Francis
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Abstract: |
This investigation aimed to assess the potential impact of frankincense oil (FKO) from Boswellia
serrata on broiler chicken growth performance parameters, including body weight (BW), body
weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the starter, grower,
and finisher phases. We also evaluated the hepatic histology, serum hepatorenal function tests,
antioxidant activity, and inflammatory responses. A total of 400 three-day-old male chicks (Ross
308 broiler) (100.40±0.13 g) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (10 replicates/
group, ten chicks/replicate). The birds were fed basal diet (FKO0, control group) or basal diet
supplemented with 200, 400, and 600 FKO/kg of diet (FKO200, FKO400, FKO600, respectively).
The experiment lasted 35 days. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that
FKO contained 36 constituents, with the dominant compounds being 1,6,10-DODECATRIEN-3-OL,
3,7,11-TRIMETHYL-, [S-(Z)]- (12.42%), c¸-Elemene (12.42%), a-Farnesene (12.42%), PHENOL and 2,4-
BIS(1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)- (7.15%). Distinctive FKO levels (200-600mg/kg) showed greater BW
without influencing total feed intake compared to the FKO0 treatment. The FCR was improved
by the addition of FKO to the diets. The blood concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and
creatinine increased (p<0.05) in the FKO600 treatment. Dietary FKO linearly lowered serum
malondialdehyde levels and enhanced blood total antioxidant capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase,
and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukine-1 b and interferon c) compared to the control
group. Broilers fed FKO at levels 200–600mg kg1 diet also exhibited lower serum total
cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the FKO400
and FKO600 treatments showed an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.01).
Histomorphological analysis of the liver indicated no significant differences between the FKOsupplemented
groups and the control group. However, the immunoexpression of the pro-inflammatory
cytokine (transforming growth factor b) was considerably increased in the liver and
spleen tissues of birds fed FKO in a level-dependent manner. In conclusion, dietary supplementation
of FKO at levels up to 600mg/kg can serve as a natural growth promoter in broiler chickens,
leading to enhanced growth, hypolipidemic properties, antioxidant status, and immune
responses.
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