The effects of Portulaca oleracea L. on blood and egg lipid in Dongxiang dark chickens

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Portulaca oleracea L. on blood and egg lipid of Dongxiang dark chickens was investigated. Forty-eight Dongxiang dark chickens with good physical condition and peak of egg production were selected. They were divided into four treatments, three replicates for each treatment with four chickens per replicate according to the principle of body weight and the number of eggs produced. Four diets adding Portulaca oleracea L. of different dose with 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% were fed for 35d, respectively. Eggs were collected from 25d until the end of the experiment, and venous blood was collected on 35d. The results showed that total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) in serum and cholesterol content in eggs with adding 2% Portulaca oleracea L. was significantly lower than those in the control (0%) while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content was significantly higher than the control (P<0.05). The contents of TC, TG and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in serum of 3% Portulaca oleracea L. was significantly lower than the control, while high density lipoprotein (HDL) and linolenic acid and DHA in eggs was significantly higher than the control (P <0.05). In addition, the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in eggs with Portulaca oleracea L. was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05). Therefore, the addition of suitable Portulaca oleracea L. in the diet could change the lipid content in serum and eggs of laying hens.