Effect of adding nettle plant on some physiological and biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

Article Highlights

1-    Administration of nettle led to increases in the basophils %.

2-    Nettle plant did not cause a hypoglycemia nor hypolipidemic effect, but it improved the status of total lipid profile in the broiler.

3-    Nettle plant decreased blood clotting time.

Effect of adding nettle plant on some physiological and biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

A.F. Abdul-Majeed¹, Gh.A. Rahawi¹ and A.M. Al-Chalabi²

¹Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul,²Department of Research and Development, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq.

dr.abdullah@uomosul.edu.iq, ¹ORCID/ 0000-0001-7331-9969

ghadeer_abd@uomosul.edu.iq, ²ORCID/ 0000-0002-5940-5104

amaralglabe@yahoo.com, ³ORCID/ 0000-0001-6505-0226

Abstract

The objective of this study is to find out the impact of the nettle plant (Urtica dioica L.) on broiler, because of its wide spread in our regions, and insufficient information about its effects on the broiler, as most of the current researches refers its uses in folk medicine. So, this research had been conducted to evaluate the effects of adding 0.25 and 0.5% crushed nettle/kg diet on the blood picture and some biochemical indices of broiler. 180 broiler chicks (Ross 308), one-day-old were randomly distributed into 3 groups (60 birds/group) with 3 replicates/group (20 birds/replicate), and treated until 42 days age as follows: 1^st group (Control): standard diets without additives, 2^nd group: 0.25% nettle/kg diet, 3^rd group: 0.50% nettle/kg diet. Results showed that crushed nettle plant led to an increase in the values of packed cell volume, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and it's shortened clotting time, as well as a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the number of basophils compared to the control group. In regard to the biochemical profile in the blood serum of broiler, most of biochemical indices values became better and significant when adding nettle (high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, risk index, total protein, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). In conclusion, nettle can be given to broiler in these proportions to improve the hematological and biochemical indices due to its properties and contents.

Keywords: Blood hemoglobin, Clotting time, Differential leukocyte count, Packed cell volume, Urtica dioica.

تأثیر إضافة نبات القریص فی بعض المعاییر الفسلجیة والکیموحیویة لمصل دم فروج اللحم

عبدالله فتحی عبدالمجید¹، غدیر عبدالمنعم محمد²، عمار ماجد بشیر الجلبی³

1قسم الإنتاج الحیوانی، کلیة الزراعة والغابات، جامعة الموصل، 2قسم البحث والتطویر، محافظة نینوى، العراق

الخلاصة

الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو معرفة تأثیر نبات القریص فی فروج اللحم، وذلک لانتشاره الواسع فی مناطقنا، ولعدم کفایة المعلومات حول آثاره فی الفروج، إذ تشیر معظم الأبحاث الحالیة إلى استخداماته فی الطب الشعبی. لذا فقد اجری هذا البحث لتقییم آثار إضافة 0,25 و0,5٪ مسحوق نبات القریص/ کغم علف فی صورة الدم وبعض المؤشرات الکیموحیویة لفروج اللحم. إذ وزع عشوائیاً 180 فرخاً (روز 308) بعمر یوم واحد فی 3 مجموعات (60 طائراً/ مجموعة) وبواقع ثلاثة مکررات/مجموعة (20 طائراً/مکرر)، وربیت الطیور إلى عمر 42 یوماً على النحو الآتی: المجموعة الأولى (مجموعة سیطرة): أعطیت طیورها علیقة قیاسیة بدون إضافات، المجموعة الثانیة: أعطیت طیورها 0,25٪ نبات القریص/ کغم علف، المجموعة الثالثة: أعطیت طیورها 0,50٪ نبات القریص/ کغم علف. تبین من النتائج أن مسحوق نبات القریص أدى إلى زیادة فی قیم حجم خلایا الدم المرصوصة وخضاب الدم ومتوسط ​​ترکیز خضاب الکریة وقلل من زمن تخثر الدم، وأدى إلى زیادة معنویة (أ≤ 0,05) فی عدد الخلایا القعدة مقارنة مع مجموعة السیطرة. وفیما یتعلق بالمؤشرات الکیموحیویة فی مصل دم فروج اللحم، فقد أصبحت معظم قیم المؤشرات الکیموحیویة أفضل وذو معنویة عند إعطاء نبات القریص (البروتینات الدهنیة عالیة الکثافة والبروتینات الدهنیة واطئة الکثافة ومؤشر الخطورة والبروتین الکلی والکلوبیولین والإنزیمات الناقلة لمجموعة الأمین الاسبارتیت والألنین). نستنتج من ذلک انه یمکن إعطاء نبات القریص لفروج اللحم بهذه النسب لتحسین المؤشرات الدمویة والکیموحیویة وذلک لخصائصه ومحتویاته.

Introduction

Recently, medicinal and aromatic herbal plants and their extracts have received great attention for their health benefits and for their use as growth promoters (1,2). One of these plants which belongs to the Urticaceae family is Nettle (Stinging nettle) (Urtica dioica L.), which is widely cultivated in the world, and it is noted as a herbal plant with medicinal properties (3). Many species of nettle can be found in Iraq, including Urtica dioica and Urtica uren, which are used to improve human and animals' health, because they contain more than 50 different chemical compounds, especially their active and effective antioxidant compounds (4). Studies have indicated the importance of using nettle, especially the vegetative part (leaves), as it was used as a nutritional supplement in poultry feed (5) to enhance the physiological and productive performance of hens (6). Nettle plant has a variety nutrients, including: antioxidants, vitamins (vitamin B complex, A, C, E, and K) (7,8), which are a necessary for the bird’s resistance against diseases and stress, hemoglobin formation, and tissue growth (9), as well as being a good source of amino acids which is important in the bird’s body growth such as lysine and glutamine and methionine (8), also it contains several mineral salts such as calcium, iron, magnesium, cobalt, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and sodium (7). Also, it contains histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, anticoagulants, formic acid, salicylic acid, thymol and carvacrol (8,10).

Physiological changes were observed by Hashemi et al. (11) in the values of RBCs and platelets of broiler reared on a ration containing different levels of dried nettles.

Materials and methods

A total of one hundred eighty broiler chicks (Ross 308), one-day-old were randomly distributed into 3 groups (60 birds/ group), with 3 replicates/group (20 birds/replicate), which were reared on ground pens with dimensions 2.5 x 2.5 x 3.0 m for width, length and height respectively, and the requirements of temperature, humidity, ventilation and lighting were taken into consideration according to the bird's age. Dried nettle leaves (Urtica dioica L.) have been bought from the local markets, then it was crushed and mixed with the standard diets. Diet was formed according to the poultry nutrition requirement (12). The diets included: a starter ration till 21days aged (21.6% crude protein and 2960 kcal/kg), then a grower ration till 42 days aged (19.3% crude protein and 3060 kcal/kg). The diets and water were offered ad libitum to all birds till 42 days age, and the groups were as follows: 1^st group (Control): birds were reared on a standard diet without additives.2^nd group: birds were reared on a standard diet supplemented by 0.25% nettle/kg diet. 3^rd group: birds were reared on a standard diet supplemented by 0.50% nettle/kg diet.

At 42 days age, six birds from each group were slaughtered, and the blood specimens were collected directly at the slaughtering in two types of tubes: tubes containing the EDTA anticoagulant and plain tubes (contains gel and a clot activator). The isolated serum was preserved at -20° C until the hematological tests will be done. Packed cell volume (PCV) were performed according to the technique described in Campbell (13), and blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was determined according to the Drabkin’s method (14) utilizing Kit (Biosystems, Spain) as mentioned in Abdul-Majeed et al. (15), then the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was calculated as described by Abdul-Majeed and Abdul-Rahman (16), and as stated in Campbell (13), and the blood clotting time was determined using capillary tube method as described by Pal and Pal (17). Giemsa-stained blood smears for differential leukocyte count (DLC) has been done as stated in Campbell (13).

Also, blood glucose, lipid profiles [total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)], total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were estimated by utilizing kits (Biosystems, Spain).

Statistical analysis

The analysis of data was performed by using Statistical Analysis Statics program (18), according to the one-way analysis of variance in the Complete Randomized Design (C.R.D). The differences between means were determined by Duncan's multiple range test at the probability level (P≤0.05) according to Steel and Torrie (19).

Results

As shown in Table 1 there are significant increases (P≤0.05) in the values of PCV, Hb and MCHC in T₂ and T₃ compared with the control group. While the clotting time has decreased significantly (P≤0.05) in T₃ compared with a control group.

Table 1: Effect of crushed nettle on blood picture and clotting time of broiler at 42 days age (Means ±SE)

Different letters in the same column mean a statistical difference at P≤0.05.

Table 2 shows a non-significant difference in differential blood leukocyte count and stress index between the study groups, except for the basophiles which is increased significantly (P≤0.05) in T₂ and T₃ 4.00 and 4.67% respectively compared with a control group 2.67%.

Table 2: Effect of crushed nettle on differential blood leukocyte count and stress index of broiler at 42 days age (Means ±SE)

Different letters in the same column mean a statistical difference at P≤0.05.

Table 3 showed that nettle treatment improves significantly the lipid profile as represented by the significant increase in the HDL in T₃ 56.37 mg/dl significant decrease in LDL in T₂ and T₃ 44.72, 46.32 mg/dl and risk ratio (LDL/HDL) 0.86, 0.82 respectively as compared with control group 49.56, 50.41 mg/dl and 1.02 for HDL, LDL and risk ratio respectively at(P≤0.05).

Table 3: Effect of crushed nettle on total lipid profile and risk index of broiler at 42 days age (Means ±SE)

Different letters in the same column mean a statistical difference at P≤0.05.

Table 4, revealed that the addition of nettle significantly increased (P≤0.05) the value of total protein, globulin and globulin/albumin in T₃ compared to the control group (P≤0.05), while the blood glucose and albumin levels were not affected.

Table 4: Effect of crushed nettle on blood glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, and globulin/albumin of broiler at 42 days age (Means ±SE)

Different letters in the same column mean a statistical difference at P≤0.05.

On the other hand, nettle treatments reduce significantly the AST values 222.23, 223.96 U/L in T₂ and T₃ respectively as compared with control group 268.18 U/L, and ALT 29.40 U/L in T₃ as compared with control and T₂ groups 37.24, 36.45 U/L respectively (Table 5).

Table 5: Effect of crushed nettle on blood AST and ALT of broiler at 42 days age (Means ±SE)

Different letters in the same column mean a statistical difference at P≤0.05.

Discussion

The addition of nettle improved the blood picture, as it significantly increased the values of PCV, Hb and MCHC compared to the control group. These findings agree with the Al-Salihi et al. (5) and Hashemi et al. (11) who said that nettle plant contains several vitamins, minerals (vitamin C, A, E, B complex, iron, copper)(7,8), antioxidants (4) and formic acid, salicylic acid, thymol and carvacrol (8,10), which increases the absorption and metabolism of iron from the gastrointestinal tract, and activates the secretion of the erythropoietin from the kidney, which in turn stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and then increase the PCV and Hb (20).

We also observe from Table 1 that the nettle plant led to a reduction in the blood clotting time in the T₃ (decrease duration of bleeding) compared to the control group, Nasiri et al. (10) and Mansoub (21) stated that nettle is rich in vitamin K (4), which acts as hemostatic (Antihemorrhagic)(22).

The increase in basophils % due to nettle treatments, may sustain the previous studies that nettle may have allergic effect due to its histamine content (23).

Nettle treatment with dose used in the current study (0.25 and 0.5% /kg diet) for 42 days did not subject any stressful effects on the broiler birds as it was clear by the significant reduction in AST and ALT values (Table 5) and the normal stress index values (Table 2).

The improvement in lipid profile of broiler which represented in the significant increase of HDL and the significant reduction of LDL and risk index was in agreement with Hashemi et al. (11) and Keshavarz et al. (24) who suggested that nettle might improve lipoprotein synthesis and metabolism which is reflected in the enhancement of HDL and reduction of LDL and risk index, Righi et al. (25) suggested that the nettle effect on lipid profile maybe related to its high content of antioxidants as polyphenols and vitamins. On the other, the results of the current study on lipid profile not agree with the results of Mansoub (21) and Safamehr et al. (26) in broiler.

The results of nettle treatments on serum glucose were agree with the finding of Safamehr et al. (26), and the albumin levels agreed with the finding of Mansoub (21), and Keshavarz et al. (24), and disagreed with finding of Al-Salihi et al. (5) who reported that the addition of nettle watery extract to the drinking water of broiler significantly increase albumin level.

Regarding the effects of nettle on total protein, globulin and globulin/albumin, it was agreed with Sharma et al. (27) in its effect on globulin, but did not agree with it in its effect on total protein and globulin / albumin. Dalla and Sheboun (9) reported that nettle was rich in lysine, glutamine and methionine as well as vitamins and many minerals, which may enhance the serum protein levels.

For the impact of nettle treatments on AST and ALT activities, Ozen and Korkmaz (28) reported that this effect may be related to the activation of some antioxidant enzymes as catalase and glutathione transferase, also EL-Ashmawy et al. (29), Loetscher et al. (30) and Kukric (31) refers that nettle has a high content of vitamin, minerals, isoflavones, and polyphenols which enhance the antioxidant status and reduce the impact of stress on cells.

Conclusions

We can conclude that nettle did not induce negative impacts when added by 0.25 and 0.5% on hematological traits, and improved the physiological performance of broiler. However, it needs more studies to validate the effect of nettle, because there are few studies on the effects of this plant on broiler.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thanks the University of Mosul and the College of Agriculture and Forestry for their assistance in this research. Also, we would like to thank Dr. Saeb Younis Abdul-Rahman for his assistance provided on this research.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.