Khaled Mostafazadeh, Habib Aghdam Shahryar, Jalal Shayegh
A study with 240-day-old broiler chickens was conducted to investigate the effects of Satureja sahandica Bornm extract in diet on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDLc), proportional abdominal fat, liver weights and liver color index. The chickens were divided into four groups and received 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% alcoholic extract of Staureja sahandica Bornm from day one to day 42 of age. All the birds receiving the Satureja sahandica extract had lower plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-c concentrations and proportional fat weights compared with the control group (P<0.05). No differences were observed for liver proportional weight and liver absolute weight. Liver color index of 0.6% and 0.9% alcoholic extract of Staureja sahandica groups was higher than that of control group. In comparison, Satureja sahandica extract supplementation diminished the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-c decreased the and abdominal fat weight (P<0.05) and increased the liver colour index as compared to control (P<0.05). Significant negative correlation (P<0.01) was found between the Satureja sahandica extract supplementation and plasma cholesterol, abdominal fat weight and positive correlation (P<0.01) between the Satureja sahandica extract supplementation and liver colour index. In conclusion, Satureja sahandica consumption in broiler chickens could improve the carcass quality to the consumers and net returns of the producers.
