Effects of a blend of Prunus mume extract as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, activity of digestive enzymes and microflora population in broiler chickens.

摘要

The study was conducted to determine the effect of Prunus mume extract (25%) with lactic acid (75%) and grape seed extract (10 ppm) on in vitro antimicrobial activity and growth performance, intestinal microflora, plasma biochemical profiles and digestive enzymes activities of broiler chickens. The antimicrobial activity against E. coli in response to Prunus mume extract or a blend of Prunus mume extract was determined using paper disc diffusion test. For in vivo test, A total of 96 male broiler chicks, 3-day-old, were assigned to basal diet (CON), basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (ANTI) and 0.5% blend of Prunus mume extract (PRNUS) until 35 days of age. Throughout the entire experimental period (3-35 days), there were no significant differences in BW and FCR of birds fed with basal diet with antibiotics and the diet supplemented with a blend of Prunus mume. However, ANTI group showed a significant increase in BW and total gain when compared with the CON group. The weights of digestive organs such as the pancreas and mucosal tissues were not affected by dietary treatments. There was no difference in plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, AST and ALT activities. However, triglyceride in plasma increased (P<0.05) in the birds fed with 0.5% blend of Prunus mume extract when compared with those fed with antibiotics supplemented diet. The activities of pancreatic trypsin and amylase, and intestinal hydrolase including disaccharidase were not affected by dietary treatment. The colony forming units (CFU) Lactobacillus in the lower ileal-caecum of the birds fed with diet supplemented with a blend of Prunus mume extract was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the birds fed with antibiotic supplemented diet without affecting the CFU of E. coli. It is concluded that the birds fed with diet supplemented a blend of prunus mume as an alternative to antibiotics have similar growth performance and have a significant increase in Lactobacillus population when compared with the birds fed with basal and antibiotics supplemented diets.