Comparative effects of powder, aqueous and methanolic extracts of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) on growth performance, antioxidant status, abdominal fat deposition and plasma lipids in broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of dried purslane powder (PP), purslane aqueous extract (PAE) and purslane methanolic extract (PME) on performance, antioxidant status, carcass traits and selected plasma lipid parameters in broiler chickens. In total, 420 1-day-old male broiler chicks were divided into seven treatments for 49 days as follows: control (basal diet), basal diets plus 1500 or 3000 mg/kg of PP (PP1500 and PP3000 respectively), basal diets plus 150 or 300 mg/kg of PAE (PAE150 and PAE300 respectively) and basal diets plus 150 or 300 mg/kg of PME (PME150 and PME300 respectively). During the total period of the experiment (0–49 days of the experiment), birds receiving the PP3000 diet had higher (P < 0.05) bodyweight gain and a lower feed conversion ratio compared with those fed other diets. At 24 and 49 days of the experiment, birds receiving the PP3000 diet showed greater (P < 0.05) plasma and liver activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and lower (P < 0.05) plasma and liver levels of malondialdehyde compared with other dietary treatments. Additionally, at 24 days of the experiment, birds receiving the PP3000 diet had a greater (P < 0.05) liver catalase activity than those receiving other dietary treatments. In addition, groups receiving the PP1500, PAE300 or PME300 diets showed greater (P < 0.05) plasma and liver activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as lower (P < 0.05) plasma and liver levels of malondialdehyde compared with the control group. At 24 days of the experiment, birds receiving the PP1500 or PP3000 diets showed greater (P < 0.05) jejunal activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase than other groups. At 49 days of the experiment, birds receiving the PP3000 diet showed greater (P < 0.05) jejunal activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase compared with the control group. Additionally, at both 24 and 49 days of the experiment, groups receiving the PP3000 diet had lower (P < 0.05) jejunal levels of malondialdehyde compared with the control group. At 49 days of the experiment, birds receiving the PP3000 diet had a lower (P < 0.05) relative weight of abdominal fat compared with those receiving the other dietary treatments. Moreover, groups that consumed the PP1500, PAE300 or PME300 diets showed lower (P < 0.05) relative weights of abdominal fat compared with the control group. Groups fed PP, PAE or PME treatments showed lower (P < 0.05) plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher (P < 0.05) plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the control group at 24 and 49 days of the experiment, with the most pronounced effects observed in those receiving the PP3000 treatment. In conclusion, PP showed more beneficial effects than PAE and PME, and 3000 mg/kg was the best inclusion level of PP in broiler chicken diets.