Abstract

The beneficial effects of clove in broiler chicken’s diet were evaluated through investigation of immunity, antioxidant status, and growth performance parameters determination of the serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG), interferon-γ (INF-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Also, malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (T.SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reduced (GSH) levels in the thigh and breast muscles were determined to evaluate the effect of clove on broiler chicken’s muscles. To achieve this objective, 150 Cobb of one-day-old chicks were allocated into five equal groups as control that supplemented by the basal diet, Clove I that fed a basal diet containing 0.5 g clove/kg diet, Clove II that fed a basal diet containing 1.0 g clove/kg diet, and Clove III that fed a basal diet containing 1.5 g clove/kg diet. The GC-MS analysis of an n-hexane extract of clove evidenced the presence of isoeugenol (21.38 %) as a major active ingredient of antioxidant potentials. Clove significantly increased the serum total protein, globulin, IgG, IgM, INF-γ, IL-10, muscle GSH levels, T.SOD, and GST activities. Whereas, the serum total cholesterol, TAG, and muscle MDA levels were significantly decreased. The obtained results stated that clove gives no effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio in comparison to the control group with enhancement of immunity and antioxidant activities in broiler chickens that concomitantly, provide a healthy broiler’s meat with less MDA that favorable to human consumption.

Key words: Broiler chickens; Clove; Immunity; Antioxidant; Muscle malondialdehyde