title: Effect of thymol and carvacrol feed supplementation on performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, fatty acid composition, digestive enzyme activities, and immune response in broiler chickens.
abstract: This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of phytogenic product containing an equal mixture of thymol and carvacrol at 4 levels (0, 60, 100, and 200 mg/kg of diet) on performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, fatty acid composition, digestive enzyme activities, and immune response in broiler chickens. Each of the 4 diets was fed to 5 replicates of 12 chicks each from d 0 to 42. The inclusion of thymol + carvacrol linearly decreased (P < 0.05) feed intake, but the highest (P < 0.05) BW gain (ADG) and feed efficiency was observed in broilers offered 200 mg/kg of phytogenic product. The phytogenic product linearly increased (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde level in thigh muscle at d 42 and serum and liver at d 24 and 42. Total saturated fatty acids were depressed (P < 0.05) and total polyunsaturated fatty acid and n-6 were linearly increased (P < 0.05) in serum and thigh by the inclusion of phytogenic product compared with the control diet. Supplementation with thymol + carvacrol also increased intestinal and pancreatic trypsin, lipase, and protease activities in 24-d-old (linear, P < 0.05) but not in 42-d-old birds. Thymol + carvacrol modified (linear, P < 0.05) immune response by increasing hypersensitivity response, total and IgG anti-sheep red blood cell titers, and decreasing heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared with the control group. However, hematological parameters and lymphoid organ weight were not affected by thymol + carvacrol. Thus, feed supplementation with thymol + carvacrol enhanced performance, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, retarded lipid oxidation, enhanced digestive enzyme activities, and improved immune response of broilers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. hamideh.hashemipour@stu.um.ac.ir
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashemipour
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kermanshahi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golian
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veldkamp
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000081007:Cymenes; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D013943:Thymol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D000081007:Cymenes; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D039821:Monoterpenes; D013943:Thymol; C073316:carvacrol