Physiological and microbial responses to periodic drinking-water supplementation with Chenopodium ambrosioides extract in broiler chickens.
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
- 2Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.
- 3Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.
- 4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt.
- 5Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 6Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
- 7Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt; Department of Industrial Pharmacy, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Manufacturing, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), P.O. Box 77, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
Phytogenic extracts may influence poultry performance through changes in systemic oxidative status and intestinal microbial populations. This study evaluated the effects of periodic Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (CAE) supplementation through drinking water on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemical and oxidative status, cecal bacterial populations, and microbiological stability of broiler meat. A total of 210 five-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 3 groups: an unsupplemented control and 2 CAE treatments receiving 3 or 6 mL/L of drinking water every third day from d 5 to 34. The methanolic CAE contained 22.2 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of total phenolic compounds and 1.13 mg quercetin equivalents/g of flavonoids, with DPPH SC₅₀ values ranging from 15.66 to 81 mg/mL. CAE supplementation improved feed conversion ratio, with the lowest value observed in supplemented birds compared with the control (1.28 vs. 1.47; P = 0.026), while feed intake decreased without a significant change in body weight. Water intake was also reduced by CAE supplementation (P = 0.034). Carcass responses were selective, with lower relative weights of the heart, gizzard, and spleen and increased abdominal fat deposition in CAE-treated birds (P < 0.05). At 6 mL/L, CAE increased serum HDL concentration (31.46 vs. 28.29 mg/dL; P = 0.002), reduced urea (34.12 vs. 41.61 mg/dL; P = 0.031) and malondialdehyde concentrations (3.31 vs. 3.62; P = 0.001), and increased glutathione S-transferase activity and reduced glutathione levels (P < 0.05). These responses indicate changes in systemic biochemical and oxidative status following CAE supplementation. In the cecum, CAE produced dose-dependent reductions in total bacterial and coliform populations, accompanied by increased Lactobacillus counts (P < 0.001). Meat microbiological stability was also improved, as indicated by lower aerobic plate counts on d 10 in birds receiving 6 mL/L CAE (P < 0.001). Overall, periodic supplementation with C. ambrosioides extract through drinking water, particularly at 6 mL/L, was associated with improved feed efficiency and coordinated changes in systemic oxidative status and measured cecal bacterial populations, together with reduced microbial counts in broiler meat.
Related
- Integrated phenotyping reveals coordinated physiological responses to cold, freezing, and recovery in Ramonda resurrection plants
- Selenium nanoparticles modulate physiological, biochemical, and gene expression responses under drought stress in Echium italicum
- Comparative Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. romana) to Foliar Methyl Jasmonate, Nano-Kaolin, and Melatonin Under a Progressive High-Temperature Regime
- Influence of Dietary Rumen-Protected Choline and Nicotinic Acid Supplementation on Growth Outcomes and Meat Tenderness, Rumen Microbial Composition, and Serum Metabolomics of Late-Fattening Beef Cattle.
- Exogenous soluble sugars modulate disease severity and physiological and biochemical responses in olive (Olea europaea L.) trees infected with Verticillium dahliae Kleb.
BibTeX
@article{qattan2026physiological,
title = {{Physiological and microbial responses to periodic drinking-water supplementation with Chenopodium ambrosioides extract in broiler chickens.}},
author = {Shaza Y A Qattan and Elwy A Ashour and Ali O Osman and Samir A Mahgoub and Mayasar I Al-Zaban and Fatmah A Safhi and Amal S Altmimi and Mona Alharbi and Aisha M Bahatheq and Mohamed E Abd El-Hack},
journal = {Poultry science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107933},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42868851},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physiological and microbial responses to periodic drinking-water supplementation with Chenopodium ambrosioides extract in broiler chickens.
AU - Shaza Y A Qattan
AU - Elwy A Ashour
AU - Ali O Osman
AU - Samir A Mahgoub
AU - Mayasar I Al-Zaban
AU - Fatmah A Safhi
AU - Amal S Altmimi
AU - Mona Alharbi
AU - Aisha M Bahatheq
AU - Mohamed E Abd El-Hack
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Poultry science
DO - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107933
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42868851
AB - Phytogenic extracts may influence poultry performance through changes in systemic oxidative status and intestinal microbial populations. This study evaluated the effects of periodic Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (CAE) supplementation through drinking water on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemical and oxidative status, cecal bacterial populations, and microbiological stability of broiler meat. A total of 210 five-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 3 groups: an unsupplemented control and 2 CAE treatments receiving 3 or 6 mL/L of drinking water every third day from d 5 to 34. The methanolic CAE contained 22.2 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of total phenolic compounds and 1.13 mg quercetin equivalents/g of flavonoids, with DPPH SC₅₀ values ranging from 15.66 to 81 mg/mL. CAE supplementation improved feed conversion ratio, with the lowest value observed in supplemented birds compared with the control (1.28 vs. 1.47; P = 0.026), while feed intake decreased without a significant change in body weight. Water intake was also reduced by CAE supplementation (P = 0.034). Carcass responses were selective, with lower relative weights of the heart, gizzard, and spleen and increased abdominal fat deposition in CAE-treated birds (P < 0.05). At 6 mL/L, CAE increased serum HDL concentration (31.46 vs. 28.29 mg/dL; P = 0.002), reduced urea (34.12 vs. 41.61 mg/dL; P = 0.031) and malondialdehyde concentrations (3.31 vs. 3.62; P = 0.001), and increased glutathione S-transferase activity and reduced glutathione levels (P < 0.05). These responses indicate changes in systemic biochemical and oxidative status following CAE supplementation. In the cecum, CAE produced dose-dependent reductions in total bacterial and coliform populations, accompanied by increased Lactobacillus counts (P < 0.001). Meat microbiological stability was also improved, as indicated by lower aerobic plate counts on d 10 in birds receiving 6 mL/L CAE (P < 0.001). Overall, periodic supplementation with C. ambrosioides extract through drinking water, particularly at 6 mL/L, was associated with improved feed efficiency and coordinated changes in systemic oxidative status and measured cecal bacterial populations, together with reduced microbial counts in broiler meat.
SN - 0032-5791
SN - 1525-3171
ER -