This study evaluates the effects of dietary supplementation with Mangifera indica (mango), Lawsonia inermis (henna), and Carica papaya (papaya) leaf powders on antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism, immune response, and meat quality in broiler chickens. Fresh leaves were shade-dried, ground into powder, and incorporated into feed at specific concentrations for 600-day-old chicks divided into five groups (n = 120/group). Key parameters—including blood biochemistry, antioxidant enzyme activity (MDA, SOD, GPx), lipid profiles, and immune markers—were assessed using standardized protocols. Results indicate that mixed herbal supplementation (Group E) demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (45.23% ± 1.48%, p < 0.0001), significantly exceeding the single-herb groups. Additionally, oxidative stress markers improved, with MDA levels lowest in Group E (1.24 ± 0.31 nmol/mL, p = 0.0103), and SOD (92.61 ± 10.08 U/mL) and GPx (90.62 ± 12.08 U/mL) activities highest in this group (p < 0.05). Lipid metabolism was optimized, showing moderate cholesterol (86.00 ± 0.78 mg/dL) and the lowest LDL levels (41.33 ± 0.44 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Carica papaya supplementation (Group D) effectively reduced cholesterol (56.00 ± 0.43 mg/dL) and triglycerides (108.33 ± 0.66 mg/dL). Furthermore, immune responses improved, with increased IgG (4.30 ± 0.14 mg/dL), IgM (2.85 ± 0.13 mg/dL), and Newcastle disease antibody titers (7.00 ± 0.22, p < 0.0001). The combination of herbal additives also enhanced meat quality by improving water-holding capacity and reducing cooking loss. These findings suggest that dietary inclusion of these herbal leaf powders can enhance broiler health, immune function, and meat quality.
References
[1]
Zhou, Z., Shen, B. and Bi, D. (2020) Management of Pathogens in Poultry. In: Animal Agriculture, Elsevier, 515-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-817052-6.00030-6
[2]
Rahman, M.R.T., Fliss, I. and Biron, E. (2022) Insights in the Development and Uses of Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry and Swine Production. Antibiotics, 11, Article 766. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11060766
[3]
Hejna, M. (2021) Plant-Based Strategies to Control the Zinc and the Copper Output from Swine Livestock.
[4]
Wallace, R.J., Oleszek, W., Franz, C., Hahn, I., Baser, K.H.C., Mathe, A., et al. (2010) Dietary Plant Bioactives for Poultry Health and Productivity. BritishPoultryScience, 51, 461-487. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2010.506908
[5]
Mahmood, H.Y., Jamshidi, S., Sutton, J.M. and Rahman, K.M. (2016) Current Advances in Developing Inhibitors of Bacterial Multidrug Efflux Pumps. CurrentMedicinalChemistry, 23, 1062-1081. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160304150522
[6]
Emmerson, D.A. (1997) Commercial Approaches to Genetic Selection for Growth and Feed Conversion in Domestic Poultry. PoultryScience, 76, 1121-1125. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/76.8.1121
[7]
Garrido, M. and Garcia, E. (2004) Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Mango (Mangiferaindica) Leaf Extracts. PlantFoodsforHumanNutrition, 59, 97-106.
[8]
Tacias-Pascacio, V.G., Castañeda-Valbuena, D., Fernandez-Lafuente, R., Berenguer-Murcia, Á., Meza-Gordillo, R., Gutiérrez, L., et al. (2022) Phenolic Compounds in Mango Fruit: A Review. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 16, 619-636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-021-01192-2
[9]
Chen, X., Li, H., Zhang, B. and Deng, Z. (2021) The Synergistic and Antagonistic Antioxidant Interactions of Dietary Phytochemical Combinations. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62, 5658-5677. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1888693
[10]
Kong, Y.R., Jong, Y.X., Balakrishnan, M., Bok, Z.K., Weng, J.K.K., Tay, K.C., et al. (2021) Beneficial Role of Carica papaya Extracts and Phytochemicals on Oxidative Stress and Related Diseases: A Mini Review. Biology, 10, Article 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10040287
[11]
Van Wyk, B.E. and Wink, M. (2018) Medicinal Plants of the World. CAB International.
[12]
Singh, D.K., Luqman, S. and Mathur, A.K. (2015) Lawsonia inermis L.—A Commercially Important Primaeval Dying and Medicinal Plant with Diverse Pharmacological Activity: A Review. Industrial Crops and Products, 65, 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.11.025
[13]
Seyidoglu, N. and Aydin, C. (2020) Stress, Natural Antioxidants and Future Perspectives. In: The Health Benefits of Foods—Current Knowledge and Further Development, IntechOpen, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91167
[14]
Kumar, H., Dhalaria, R., Guleria, S., Sharma, R., Kumar, D., Verma, R., et al. (2023) Non-Edible Fruit Seeds: Nutritional Profile, Clinical Aspects, and Enrichment in Functional Foods and Feeds. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 64, 13298-13317. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2023.2264973
[15]
Bellapu, K.K., Mergu, T., Shirsath, N.V., Shende, P.A., Vasu, P.Y., Jindal, D. and Kumar, S. (2025) Regulatory Aspects of Antioxidants. In: Antioxidants: Nature’sDefenseAgainstDisease, Wiley, 613-628.
[16]
Semkoff, J. (2015) The Effects of Mango Supplementation on Clinical Parameters of Individuals with Moderately Elevated Blood Glucose. Master’s Thesis, Oklahoma State University.
[17]
Soetan, K.O. and Oyewole, O.E. (2009) The Need for Adequate Processing to Reduce the Anti-Nutritional Factors in Plants Used as Poultry Feed Additives. AfricanJournalofBiotechnology, 8, 5344-5350.
[18]
Kornburst, D.J. and Mavis, R.D. (1980) The Role of Lipid Peroxidation in Oxidative Stress and Its Measurement Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Method. JournalofLipidResearch, 21, 849-853.
Al-Majali, I.S., Al-Oran, S.A., Hassuneh, M.R., Al-Qaralleh, H.N., Rayyan, W.A., Al-Thunibat, O.Y., et al. (2017) Immunomodulatory Effect of Moringa Peregrina Leaves, ex Vivo and in Vivo Study. CentralEuropeanJournalofImmunology, 3, 231-238. https://doi.org/10.5114/ceji.2017.70964
[21]
Jegatheesan, J., Shu, L., Lens, P. and Chiemchaisri, C. (2020) Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future. Springer.