Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional impacts of nettle (Urtica dioica) extract (NE) on the growth performance, antioxidant status, and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens. Three hundred one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments which were replicated five times with fifteen birds per replicate, including the control group (basal diet) and NE1, NE2, and NE3 groups (basal diet containing + 0.25 ml/l of administered through drinking water NE, 0.5 ml/l NE and 1 ml/l NE, respectively). On days 21 and 42, 2 chicks in each replicate were selected to collect blood from the wing veins and then slaughtered. In the 1–42-day period, body weight gain and feed intake improved in NE1 and NE2 treatments compared to the control diet and NE 3 (P < 0.05). Feeding broiler chickens with diets containing 0.25 ml/l NE increased serum concentrations of total protein and albumin and decreased serum concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides, and cholesterol (P < 0.05). Breast yield was significantly increased by NE1. Treatments containing NE showed a significant increase in thigh yield compared to the control treatment (P < 0.05). The activity of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities in serum increased in NE1 compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it can be summarized that using NE affected growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. The optimal dose in the present study of NE in broiler diets was 0.25 ml/l.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alemi M, Samadi F, Samadi S (2015) Effect of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf powder and vitamin E on performance and some blood parameters of meat type Japanese quail. J Anim Produ 16:147–155
Al-Mashhadany DA, Nahla AA, Zaki AM et al (2018) Detection of antibiotic residues among poultry meat in Erbil city and impact of thermal processing on remnants. Res J Life Sci 3:237–247
Ahmadipour B, Khajali F (2019) Expression of antioxidant genes in broiler chickens fed nettle (Urtica dioica) and its link with pulmonary hypertension. Anim Nutr 5:264–269
Asayesh G, Mohebbi GH, Nabipour I et al (2021) Secondary metabolites from the marine tunicate “Phallusia nigra” and some biological activities. Biol Bull 48:263–273
Baser U, Gamsiz-Isik H, Cifcibasi E et al (2015) Plasma and salivary total antioxidant capacity in healthy controls compared with aggressive and chronic periodontitis patients. Saudi Med J 36(7):856–861
Behboodi HR, Samadi F, Shams Shargh M et al (2017) Effects of silymarin on growth performance, internal organs and some blood parameters in Japanese quail subjected to oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride. Poult Sci J 5:31–40
Catoni CH, Schaefer HM, Peters A (2008) Fruit for health: the effect of flavonoids on humoral immune response and food selection in a frugivorous bird. Func Ecol 22:644–654
Dunford NT, Vazquez RS (2005) Effect of water stress on plant growth and thymol and carvacrol concentrations in Mexican oregano grown under controlled conditions. J Appl Hortic 7:20–22
Faix S, Faixová Z, Plachá I, Koppel J (2009) Effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil on antioxidative status in broiler chickens. Acta Vet Brno 78:411–417
Fattman CL, Schaefer LM, Oury TD (2003) Extracellular superoxide dismutase in biology and medicine. Free Radic Biol Med 35:236–256
Fathi M, Nazer adl K, Ebrahim Nezhad Y, et al (2011) The role of oxidative stress in the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) in broilers with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). J Anim Vet Advan 10:2724–2729
Ghazalah AA, Ali AM (2008) Rosemary leaves as a dietary supplement for growth in broiler chickens. Inter J Poul Sci 7:234–239
Gülçin I, Küfrevioğlu K, Oktay M et al (2004) Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Uritica dioica L). J Ethnopharmacol 90:205–215
Gunal M, Yayli G, Kaya O et al (2006) The effects of antibiotic growth promoter, probiotic or organic acid supplementation on performance, intestinal microflora and tissue of broilers. Inter J Poul Sci 5:149–155
Hernandez F, Madrid J, Garcia V et al (2004) Influence of two plant extracts on broiler performance digestibilities and digestive organ size. Poul Sci 83:169–174
Ismail IB, Al-Busadah KA, El-Bahr SM (2013) Oxidative stress biomarkers and biochemical profile in broilers chicken fed zinc bacitracin and ascorbic acid under hot climate. Am J Biochem Mol Biol 3:202–214
Jurani M, Lamasova D, Macajova M et al (2008) Effect of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) on Japanese quail growth, egg production and plasma metabolites. Bri Poul Sci 49:55–64
Kanter M, Coskun O, Budancamanak M (2005) Hepatoprotective effects of Nigella sativa and urtica dioica on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems and liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride treated rats. World J Gastroenterol 11(42):6684–6688
Kim JS, Ingale SL, Lee SH et al (2013) Effects of energy levels of diet and β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility and blood metabolites in growing pigs. Anim Feed Sci Tech 186:64–70
Kumar S, Sahu NP, Pal AK et al (2005). Effect of dietary carbohydrate on haematology, respiratory burst activity and histological changes in L. rohita juveniles. Fish & Shellfish Immun 19(4):331–344.
Lane BR, Demirjian S, Weight CJ et al (2010) Performance of the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology study equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate before and after nephrectomy. Urology 183(3):896–901
Lee K, Everts WH, Beyen AC (2003) Dietary carvacrol lowers body gain but improves feed conversion in female broiler chickens. J Appl Poul Res 12:394–399
Liu WY, Liou SS, Hong TY et al (2017) Protective effects of Hesperidin (citrus flavonone) on high glucose induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in a cellular model for diabetic retinopathy. Nutrients 9(12):1312
Loetscher Y, Kreuzer M, Messikommer RE (2013) Utility of nettle (urtica dioica) inlayer diets as a natural yellow colorant for egg yolk. Anim Feed Sci Tech 186:158–168
Mansoub NH (2011) Comparison of effects of using nettle (Urtica dioica) and probiotic on performance and serum composition of broiler chickens. Glob Vet 6:247–250
McCord JM (1979) Free radicals and inflammation protection of synovial fluid by superoxide dismutase. Science 185:529–531
Meimandipour A, Nouri Emamzadeh A, Soleimani A (2017) Effects of nanoencapsulated aloe vera, dill and nettle root extract as feed antibiotic substitutes in broiler chickens. Arch Anim Breed 60:1–7
Mehrabi Z, Firouzbakhsh F (2019) Short-term effects of feeding powdered aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) and nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth performance and stimulation of innate immune responses in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Clin Path 29:441–449
Nasiri S, Nobakht A, Safamehr AR (2011) The effects of different levels of nettle Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) medicinal plant in starter and grower feeds on performance, carcass traits, blood biochemical and immunity parameters of broilers. Iran J Appl Anim Sci 1:177–181
Ngugi CC, Oyoo-Okoth E, Mugo-Bundi J et al (2015) Effects of dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on the growth performance, biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters in juvenile and adult Victoria Labeo (Labeo victorianus) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish Shellfish Immunol 44:533–541
Otles S, Yalcin B (2012). Phenolic compounds analysis of root, stalk and leaves of Nettle. Sci. World J.. 2012:564367
Pałka SE, Otwinowska-Mindur A, Migdał Ł, et al (2021). Effect of a diet supplemented with nettle (Urtica dioica L.) or fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on the post-slaughter traits and meat quality parameters of termond white rabbits. Animals 11(6):1566
Qureshi AA, Abuirmeileh N, Din ZZ et al (1983) Inhibition of cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis in liver enzymes and chicken hepatocytes by polar fractions of garlic. Lipids 18:343–348
Reitman S, Frankel SA (1957) Calorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase. American J Clin Pathol 28:56–63
Roberfroid MB (2007) Inulin-type fructans: functional food ingredients. J Nutr 137:2493S-2502S
Saeidiasl MR, Adel M, Caipang CMA et al (2017) Immunological responses and disease resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles following dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Fish Shellfish Immunol 71:230–238
Safamehr A, Mirahmadi A, Nobakht A (2012) Effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) medicinal plant on growth performance, immuneresponses, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Int Res J Basic Appl Sci 3:721–728
SAS Institute (2007) SAS System for Windows. Version 9.4. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC
Selmi S, Jallouli M, Gharbi N et al (2015) Hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of lavender (Lavandula stoechas L.) essential oils against malathion-induced oxidative stress in young male mice. J Med Food 18:1103–1111
Sun J, Zhao J, Bao X et al (2018) Alkaline phosphatase assay based on the chromogenic interaction of diethanolamine with 4-aminophenol. Anal Chem 90(10):6339–6345
Taherpour K, Moravej H, Shivazad M et al (2009) Effects of dietary probiotic, prebiotic and butyric acid glycerides on performance and serum composition in broiler chickens. Afr J Biotechnol 8:2329–2334
Tekeli A, Kutlu HR, Celik L (2011) Effect of Z. officinale and propolis extracts on the performance, carcass and some blood parameters of broiler chicks. Curr Res Poul Sci 1:12–23
Thomas D, Zachariah S, Elamin AEE et al (2017) Limitations of serum creatinine as marker of renal function. Sch Acad J Pharm 6:168–170
Wang L, Piao L, Kim SW et al (2008) Effects of forsythia suspense extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and antioxidant activities in broiler chickens under high ambient temperature. Poul Sci 87:1287–1294
Xie Z, Shen G, Wang Y et al (2019) Curcumin supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. Poul Sci 98:422–429
Yarnell E (2009) Stinging nettle: a modern view of an ancient healing plant. Altern Complement Ther 4:180–182
Zomrawi WB, Abdel KA, Atti Dousa BM et al (2013) The effect of ginger root powder (Zingiberofficinale) on broiler chick’s performance, carcass characteristics and serum constituents. J Anim Sci Adv 3(2):42–47
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Kianpharmino Group Co. We thank the Research and Development Department of Kianpharmino in Amol, Mazandaran, Iran.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study was approved by the Animal Care and Use Review Committee guidelines of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Behboodi, H., Alemi, M. & Baradaran, A. Urtica dioica extract—suitable dietary supplement influencing the growth body characteristics, antioxidant status, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Comp Clin Pathol 30, 913–920 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-021-03286-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-021-03286-1