Effect of dietary supplementation of Echinacea and nucleotides on productive performance, intestinal histomorphology and gene expression of broiler chickens

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Echinacea purpurea leaves powder, nucleotides single and in combination on growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology, gene expression, biochemical parameters, immune and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. A total number of 108 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 4 equal groups each of 27 chicks in 3 replicates (9 chicks per each). The first group (control) was fed a basal diet without additives, while the second group received a diet supplemented with 1.0% Echinacea. The third group fed on a diet containing 0.05% nucleotides and the fourth group received a diet supplemented with a combination of Echinacea 0.5% & nucleotides 0.05%. The results showed that birds in the second and third groups had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain (2012.60±75.82g & 2005.40±38.19g) and improved feed conversion ratios (1.44±0.05& 1.45±0.02). Dietary supplementation of Echinacea increased the relative weight of the bursa and thymus while decreased the relative weight of the spleen and liver. Addition of nucleotides to broiler diets significantly (P<0.05) increased the serum level of total protein, triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL), while decreased cholesterol and low density lipoproteins (LDL). Echinacea addition significantly (P<0.05) increased the level of serum total protein and HDL, while decreased cholesterol and LDL. Group 3 showed improvement in the intestinal histomorphology, while group 4 showed degeneration in the jejunal epithelium. Nucleotides upregulated both (IL-10) and (IGF). It could be concluded that the dietary supplementation of Echinacea or nucleotides improved the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, immunity and antioxidant status.