Tissue tocopherol status, meat lipid stability and serum lipids in broiler chickens fed Artemisia annua

Abstract

Growing consumer concern about the use of synthetic feed additives, there is elevated interest in using phytogenic compounds in poultry feeds. The effect of Artemisia annua (A. annua) in broiler diets on tissue tocopherols, lipid peroxidation products, serum triglycerides, and non‐esterified fatty acids were determined. It is hypothesized that dietary A. annua will enhance tocopherols and will reduce lipid peroxidation products in chicken meat. Broiler chicks (n = 52) were fed corn‐soy diets containing 0 (Control) or 2% dried A. annua leaves (ART). Dietary ART led to increase in γ‐, α‐, and total tocopherols in muscle and liver (P < 0.0001). A three‐ and fourfold increase in γ‐, α‐ tocopherol compared to Control was found in breast muscle of chickens fed ART (P < 0.001). No increase in α‐ tocopherol was found in serum, whereas, γ‐tocopherol increased in the serum of chicken fed ART (P < 0.001). Lipid peroxidation products measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, were lower in the muscle and serum of birds fed ART than Control (P < 0.0001). Even serum triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids were lower in such birds ART (P < 0.001). No difference was found in total fat, saturated or n‐6 and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of liver and muscle (P > 0.05). No difference was observed in body weight, relative weight of liver, heart, spleen, and bursa. A. annua may prove useful as a natural phytogenic feed additive with antioxidant potential that could be incorporated into poultry diets and such meat could serve as an alternate route for providing vitamin E in human diets.