Effect of different levels of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum)essential oils on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and blood serum metabolites in broiler chicks

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of essential oils of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum (on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation and serum metabolites in broiler chickens for 42 days. 336 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 7 treatments with 4 replications. Dietary treatments were included a corn-soybean based diet as control, and groups of containing 100, 200 and 300 part per million (ppm) of wormwood and cumin essential oils. At the end of experiment, two birds per each replicate were randomly selected, bled and then killed to determine antioxidant indexes and serum metabolites. Chemical analysis of worwood and cumin essential oils by gas chromatography–mass spectra (GC-MS) showed as the main constituents β-pinene (24.2%) and γ-terpinene (26.24%), respectively. Results showed that addition of 200 and 300 ppm of wormwood essential oil and 300 ppm of cumin essential oil significantly increased (P<0.05) glutathione peroxidase activity in liver and kidney when compared with the control group. Also, treatment of 200 ppm cumin essential oil significantly increased (P<0.05) glutathione peroxidase activity in kidney than control group. Chicks received 200 and 300 ppm cumin essential oil and 200 ppm wormwood essential oil in the diet, had higher (P<0.05) superoxide dismutase activity in liver than control group. There were no significant difference between experimental groups regarding liver and kidney catalase activity and liver superoxide dismutase activity (P>0.05). Adding 300 ppm wormwood and cumin essential oils significantly increased (P<0.05) total antioxidant capacity in serum compared with the control group. Supplementation of diet with wormwood and cumin essential oils, significantly decreased (P<0.05) malondialdehyde concentration in liver, kidney and serum, and significantly decreased serum cholesterol and LDL concentration. Serum HDL concentration significantly increased (P<0.05) than control group, but did not significant affect on other serum metabolites.In general, results indicated that addition of wormwood and cumin essential oils to diet, caused improvement body antioxidant system, increased serum HDL, and decreased serum cholesterol and LDL concentration in broiler chicks.