Effect of Herbals Tulsi and Turmeric on Cortisol, Enzymatic and Biochemical constituents in Serum of Heat stressed Broilers

摘要

An experiment of 42 days was taken up to study the efficacy of herbal antioxidants Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in reducing heat stress induced changes in serum constituents during summer months. 168 birds (day old) were dividedinto 7 groups (24 each) in completely randomized design. Basal diet (BD) was offered to G-I (Heat stressed (HS)) without any antioxidant supplementation. The herbals Tulsi and Turmeric were supplemented solely at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5% and 0.2,0.4 % to groups II, III, IV and V, respectively and as combinations (0.25 % Tulsi + 0.2 %Turmeric and 0.5% Tulsi + 0.4 % Turmeric) to groups VI and VII, respectively. Additionally 24 day old chicks were raised separately in stress free environment that served as the control group. The blood samples were collected at 4th and 6th weeks of age and estimated for Cortisol concentration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alkaline transaminase (ALT) enzymes and protein profiles (Total protein (TP),albumin and globulin) in serum. The serum ALP (1430 and 1849 IU/1 at 4thand 6th wk, respectively) ALT (17.74 and 51.42IU/L at 4th and 6th wk, respectively) and Cortisol (4.54 and 8.77 ug/dl at 4th and 6th wk, respectively) were higher (P<0.01) in HS group and lowest in stress free group. While, TP, albumin and globulin concentrations were significantly (P<0.01) lower in HS group compared to the control group. Supplementation of BD with Tulsi and Turmeric lowered (P<0.01) the activity of serum enzymes (ALP and ALT) and Cortisol concentration and increased the TP, albumin and globulin concentration compared to HS birds. Herbals in combination supplemented at higher concentration (0.5% Tulsi and 0.4% Turmeric) showed significant (P<0.01) improvement than when supplementedat lower concentration (0.25 and 0.2%, respectively). However, combination of herbals at either doses did not show any additive advantage than their sole inclusions. Tulsi and Turmeric supplemented at 0.5 and 0.4%, respectively were effective in mitigating the changes in serum constituents induced due to heat stress.