title: Hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of curcumin on blood parameters, humoral immunity, and jejunum histology in Hy-line hens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Turmeric (Curcuma Longa Linn) is a medicinal plant that contains curcumin. There is a growing interest in using curcumin powder (CP) as feed additives for antioxidative and antimicrobial properties to improve human health. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate levels of CP on blood parameters, immunity, and histology of jejunum in hens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200, 58-wk-old Hy-line hens were randomly distributed into 4 treatments (0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5% CP or 0, 5, 15, and 25 g/kg feed, respectively) with 5 replicates (10 birds each) for 8 weeks using the completely randomized design. Blood samples were taken from 2 birds per replicate at weeks 61 and 65 to evaluate blood parameters. On weeks 63 and 65, two birds from each replicate received 0.5 ml SRBC (25%) injection in breast muscle and 7 days later, blood samples were collected to evaluate total Ig, IgG, and IgM titers in serum. Two hens were sacrificed at week 65 for the histological study of jejunum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin reduced triglycerides at 1.5% and 2.5% and cholesterol and LDL at 2.5% (p<0.05). Improvement of total Ig and IgG titers after the 1(st) and 2(nd) injections were observed. Muscle thickness in jejunum increased (p<0.05) at 1.5% curcumin and the length and surface area of villus were enhanced as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that curcumin can be used as an antioxidant at 1.5% and antilipidemic agent at 2.5% in diet.
authors: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran.
authors: Javad
authors: J
authors: Arshami
authors: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Pilevar
authors: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Aami Azghadi
authors: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran.
authors: Ahmad Reza
authors: AR
authors: Raji
keywords: Curcumin; Humoral Immunity; Hypolipidemic Agent; Jejunum Histology