Effects of plant-derived bioactive supplementation on intestinal morphology and humoral immune response of broiler chickens

Plant-derived bioactive supplementation in chicken

Abstract

With the gradually increasing regulatory restrictions on the prophylactic and growth-promoting use of antibiotics in poultry farming, more interest has been generated in the use of natural alternatives in chickens for optimal gut health and immunity. This study reports the effects of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera derived bioactive extract on the gut morphology and immune response in broiler chickens. A total of 240 day-old male Cobb-500 chicks were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: a control group with only basal diet and three groups receiving basal diet supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g/kg of the plant extract. During the feeding trial of 42 days, the birds were raised under strictly controlled environmental conditions. For gut histology, samples were taken from the jejunum to measure villus height, crypt depth, and their ratio. To evaluate the humoral immune status of the birds, the Newcastle disease antibody titer and weights of lymphoid organs were assessed. Birds supplemented with 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg of the plant extract showed significantly improved intestinal morphology with longer villi, a higher villi- to-crypt ratio, and well-preserved gut tissue architecture. The immune system of these birds was enhanced, with higher antibody titers and immune organ weights. A very strong positive correlation was evident between villus height and antibody responses, revealing a close association between gut structure and immune strength. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of broiler chicken with Moringa oleifera derived bioactive extract improved their gut health and immune status, supporting its potential as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics in poultry production.