Investigation the effects of broccoli powder (Brassicoleracea var. italica) and mulberry (Morus alba) leaf ethanoic extract in comparison to vitamin C on growth performance and intestinal villi morphology in broiler chickens

In this study, the effects of broccoli and mulberry leaf on growth performance and intestinal villi morphology in broiler chickens were evaluated. A total of 216 one-day old broiler chickens were randomly divided into 6 groups with 3 replicates of 12 birds. Group 1 received basal diet with standard ration of broiler chickens. Group 2 was fed with a diet containing 500 mg/kg of vitamin C. Groups 3 and 4 received diets containing 0.5 % and 1 % of broccoli powder, and groups 5 and 6 received diets containing 0.05 % and 0.1 % of mulberry leaf ethanoic extract respectively. Variables related to growth performance and intestinal villi morphology were evaluated at age 35. Growth performance increased in experimental treatments in comparison to control, but did not show statistically significant difference. The results of intestinal morphology indicated that in the duodenum, all parameters were higher in experimental treatments than control (P<0.05). In the jejunum, villi height was higher in all treatments exception to mulberry leaf 0.05% and absorption surface of the groups vitamin C, broccoli 1% and mulberry leaf 0.1% was more than control (p<0.05). In the ileum, vitamin C in all parameters and mulberry leaf 0.1% had more villus width and lamina propria depth than control (P<0.05). The present study showed that the addition of broccoli powder and mulberry leaf ethanoic extract to broiler chickens diet improved the intestinal villi morphology in terms of height and absorption surface and could increase the food absorption, so relatively improve growth performance.