Effect of water extract of Hypericum perforatum on performance, abdominal fat and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chicken

The present study was done to study the effects of water Hypericum perforatum extract (WHPE) on performance، abdominal fat، carcass characteristics، and blood biochemical parameters of broilers with 160 day-old Ross 308. Broilers were randomly distributed among the16 experimental units of four treatments with four replications (10 birds in each replicate) for 42 days. The treatments were included 0، 150، 300 and 450 mg WHPE per kg diet from 0-42 days. Two birds from each pen were randomly selected، bleeding and slaughtered at 24 and 42 days of age. Results showed that the performance parameters were not affected by the WHPE with the exception of feed intake that was lower for the birds received 300 mg WHPE. The production index and carcass relative weight were not altered by the level of WHPE with the exception of the relative weight of liver، proventriculus and gizzard that greater at highest level of WHPE in 24 d. Birds received 300 and 450 mg WHPE had lower abdominal fat as compared to control (P<0. 05). Birds received 150 mg WHPE had higher concentration of HDL and lower glucose in 24 d. The enzyme activity of ALT and AST were higher when broilers received 300 mg WHPE in 24 d (P<0. 05) however، it did not changed at 42 d. It is concluded that the addition of WHPE to broiler diet could not significantly influence on performance parameters، although it may be reduce the abdominal fat and enhanced the liver enzyme activity.