Effect of Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Juice and Lactobacillus acidophilus on Broiler Duodenal Morphology

Abstract

The use of probiotics and medicinal plants has been studied by several workers as feed supplements for improvement of production and immunity in poultry. In the present study, Morinda citrifolia (noni) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAB) were evaluated to see the hisotmorphological changes observed in the duodenal villi in broiler birds. Commercial broiler chick (Ven – cob) were fed with noni and LAB alone and in combination. The section of the duodenum were cut and studied for histological analysis. Histological examinations revealed significant microscopical changes in crypt depth and villi height at the level of duodenum. The villi height and crypt depth varied significantly and were better with treatment groups than the control group. The intestinal mucous villi and crypt depth of lactobacillus fed broilers were of significantly very high approximately 439.64 µ and 51.39 µ respectively with the base having ridges. Lactobacillus significantly improved the intestinal mucous villi and crypt depth followed by noni at the duodenal morphology which is the primary site for the development of immune response and where nutrient uptake takes place. The results based on histological indexes of the intestinal mucosa indicated that the supplementation of Morinda juice improved the function of gut through its beneficial effects.