Effects of dietary Allium hookeri root on growth performance and antioxidant activity in young broiler chickens.

Res Vet Sci. 2018 Mar 11;118:345-350. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.03.007. [Epub ahead of print] Lee Y1, Lee SH2, Lee SJ3, Gadde UD4, Oh ST4, Han H5, Lillehoj HS6. Author information 1 Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA; College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea. 2 National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Department Administration, 166, Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Isoe-Myeon, Wanju-Gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. 3 College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea. 4 Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA. 5 Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Minhang, Shanghai, PR China. 6 Animal Bioscience and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA. Electronic address: hyun.lillehoj@ars.usda.gov. Abstract The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Allium hookeri (AH) root in two forms, powdered AH root and fermented powdered AH root, to demonstrate its value as an antibiotic alternative feed additive for broiler chickens. A total of 125 male Ross-708 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 25 birds/group) and fed standard diets supplemented with root or fermented root of AH at two different levels (1% or 5%). Control birds were provided with non-supplemented basal diets. Body weights was measured at days 14 and 21 of age. To monitor antioxidant activities, heme oxygenase (HMOX), aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase (AFAR), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and catalase (CAT) enzyme levels were quantified by real-time PCR in the jejunums 21-day-old birds. Also, serum levels of SOD, CAT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using commercial kits. The results showed greater body weight gains at day 14 in chickens fed diets supplemented with 1% AH root, as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Up-regulated transcript levels of AFAR, HMOX1, and CAT were observed in the jejunum of chickens fed diets supplemented with AH. The serum levels SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in groups treated with AH, whereas MDA levels were decreased in groups fed diets supplemented with AH, as compared to the control group. These results indicated that an optimum level of dietary AH supplementation to young broiler chickens influences growth and improves antioxidant activities. KEYWORDS: Allium hookeri; Antioxidant; Broiler; Feed additives; Growth performance; Immunity PMID: 29635171 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.03.007